Gefei Chen

I gained my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and developed a strong foundation in protein biochemistry throughout my subsequent postdoctoral training from 2014 to 2019. My career progressed through roles as an Assistant Professor in medical protein biochemistry from 2019 to 2023, where I focused on molecular mechanisms and potential treatments of a molecular chaperone domain for neurodegenerative diseases, among other projects. Currently, I hold a position as a Principal Researcher, with focusing on medical protein biochemistry and structure biology.

Proteins can unfold and assemble into both pathogenic and functional amyloid fibrils, which are relevant to human diseases, bacterial infections, and biomaterials. Our research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying these different types of amyloid formation and to search for natural and engineered strategies to inhibit amyloid aggregation. Our goal is to develop therapeutic approaches for human diseases and combat bacterial infections. In parallel, we are interested in the mechanisms and functions of amyloid assemblies in natural silk fibers, with an eye toward their applications in biomaterials.