Qian Chen, PhD | PCOM Biomedical Sciences Faculty
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QIAN CHEN, PHD
Director, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences
Associate Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology

Qian Chen, PhD
215-871-6153

Affiliations

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

Dr. Chen is highly committed in using her medical knowledge and clinical/research experience to educate PCOM students. Since 2008, she has taught in pharmacology courses for the DO and biomedical sciences programs at PCOM, and since 2013 she has given biochemistry lectures to biomedical sciences students. Her teaching philosophy is student-centered and aims to provide students with accurate knowledge while nurturing them to develop critical thinking skills. She favors classroom dynamics that permit dialogue and foster student input, and she uses standardized practice questions in lecture to develop student problem-solving skills and to receive instantaneous feedback. Teaching also provides her the excellent opportunity to communicate with medical and graduate students, and to foster research work directed at meeting clinical needs. Additionally, she takes advantage of faculty strategic training lectures provided by PCOM to improve teaching skills by adapting to modern medical educational needs.

Dr. Chen has served as thesis advisor or committee member for several biomedical sciences master's students, and she also provides research training to DO and graduate work-study students in the lab. Moreover, she has established research collaborations with internal and external senior researchers, such as Dr. Greene, Dr. Barsotti, Dr. Young, and Dr. Hatcher at PCOM, and Dr. Weis at Texas Tech University. The collaborations have led to journal paper publications, abstract/poster presentations at national scientific meetings, and grant submissions.

Education

M.D./PhD Xi’an Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, P.R. China, 2001
MS, Xi’an Medical University, P.R. China, 1998
BS, Xi’an Medical University, P.R. China, 1995

Courses

2008-present Pharmacology lectures for Biomedical Sciences program; Co-coordinator for Pharmacology for Biomedical Sciences

2010-present Pharmacology lectures for D.O. program

2013-present Biochemistry lectures for Biomedical Sciences program

Research

For the past decade, Dr. Chen's research has been conducted in topics related to the cardiovascular system. Currently, she is interested in finding the key mechanisms involved in various cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are two critical events initiating the pathogenesis of these diseases, and in her lab multiple animal models and biochemical techniques are combined to evaluate blood vessel biochemical properties (e.g., blood nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide) in real-time, organ blood perfusion, and inflammation (i.e., leukocyte-endothelial interactions). Her research will clarify the roles of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, NADPH oxidase, damaged mitochondria, and key enzyme regulations and signaling pathways, which will provide new treatment strategies for cardiovascular diseases.

Research Keywords

Vascular endothelial dysfunction
Leukocyte-endothelial interactions
Hyperglycemia
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
Inflammation
Oxidative stress
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Hydrogen peroxide
Nitric oxide

Memberships

2005-2014 Neuroscience Society, Regular Member
2007-present Sigma Xi Society, Regular Member
2011-present American Peptide Society, Regular Member
2013-present American Heart Association, Regular Member

Grants

Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA) at PCOM (07/01/2013-06/30/2014)
Title: The role of mitochondria in acute hyperglycemia: activation of vascular NADPH oxidase and eNOS uncoupling
Role on Project: PI

Pennsylvania State Tobacco Grant (grant #4100057680) 01/01/2012-12/31/2015
Title: “Evaluation of tetrahydrobiopterin/dihydrobiopterin ratio in vascular injury tissues”
Role on Project: Co-investigator

 

Other

Volunteer and Leadership Activities
  • Reviewer: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

 

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