Gender	Female
E-mail	jia.chen@mssm.edu
Education and Training	Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
	M.A., College of William and Mary
	B.S., Beijing (Peking) University
	Fellowship, Harvard School of Public Health
	Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Awards	2002 American Cancer Society Research Award American Cancer Society
	1998 AACR-Phone-Poulenc Rorer Young Investigator Award American Association of Cancer Research
	1998 NCI Career Development Award
	1993, 1994 Arthur T. Ippen Travel Fellowship Massachusetts Institute of Technology
	1983, 1985 Student Merit Award Bejing University

Training Area(s)

MDT, GGS

Education and Training	Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
	M.A., College of William and Mary
	B.S., Beijing (Peking) University
	Fellowship, Harvard School of Public Health
	Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Molecular and genetic epidemiology: genetic susceptibility; gene-environment interactions in human diseases

Research of our laboratory focuses on genetic susceptibility of complex diseases such as cancer, and the interactions of inherited susceptibility with nutritional and environmental factors in pathogenesis of these diseases. Such work is of great importance in identifying disease-causing exposure, clarifying disease etiology, and designing prevention strategies through dietary and lifestyle modifications. We are also expanding our research in trying to understand how inherited genetic variability may influence disease progression and host response to treatment.

Currently, our laboratory is conducting several large population studies. We are using multidisciplinary approach to study genetic predisposition of colon and breast cancer associated with alcohol and vitamin B consumption. Utilizing blood specimens collected from participants in several large on-going population studies, we are examining the associations of common functional polymorphisms in the alcohol- and folate-metabolizing genes and risk of colorectal and breast cancer as well as survival of the disease.

With completion of the Human Genome Project, the gnome-wide scan of disease-associated genetic variations is the future of molecular/genetic epidemiology. In response to such challenge, our laboratory is also active in developing high-throughput genotyping technology that can readily be implemented in genetic epidemiologic studies.

Chen J, Giovannucci E, Kelsey K, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Spiegelman DA, Willett WC, Hunter DJ. A methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Research 1996; 56: 4862-4864.

Chen J, Stampfer MJ, Hough HL, Garcia-Closas ML, Willett WC, Hennekens CH, Kelsey KT, Hunter DJ. A prospective study of N-acetyltransferase genotype, red meat intake, and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 1998 Aug 1; 58(15): 3307-11.

Chen J, Stampfer MJ, Ma J, Selhub J, Malinow MR, Hennekens CH, Hunter DJ. Influence of a methionine synthase (D919G) polymorphism on plasma homocysteine and folate levels and relation to risk of myocardial infarction. Atherosclerosis 2001 Feb 15; 154(3): 667-72.

Chen J, Germer S, Higuchi R, Berkowitz GS, Godbold JH, Wetmur JG. Kinetic polymerase chain reaction on pooled DNA: a high-throughput, high-efficiency alternative in genetic epidemiological studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002 Jan; 11(1): 131-6.

Chen J, Hunter DJ, Stampfer MJ, Kyte CJ, Chan WJ, Wetmur JG, Selhub JG, Ma JG. Polymorphism in the thymidylate synthase promoter enhancer region modifies the risk and survival of colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2003 Oct; 12(10): 958-62.

Chen J, Kumar M, Chan W, Berkowitz G, James GW. Increased influence of genetic variation on paraoxonase-1 enzymatic activity in neonates. Environ Health Perspect 2003; 111: 1403-09.

Chen J, Kyte C, Valcin M, Chan W, Wetmur JG, Selhub JG, Hunter DJ, Ma JJ. Polymorphisms in the one-carbon metabolic pathway, serum folate levels and colorectal cancer in a prospective study. Int J Cancer 2004; 110: 617-20.

Chen J, Kyte C, Chan W, Wetmur JG, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci E. Polymorphism in the thymidylate synthase promoter enhancer region and risk of colorectal adenomas. CancerEpidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004 Dec; 13(12): 2247-50.

Chen J, Gammon MD, Chan W, Palomeque C, Wetmur JG, Kabat GC, Teitelbaum SL, Britton JA, Terry MB, Neuqut AI, Santella RM. One-carbon metabolism, MTHFR polymorphisms, and risk of breast cancer. Cancer Res 2005 Feb 15; 65(4): 1606-14.

Chen J, Chan W, Wallenstein S, Berkowitz G, Wetmur JG. Haplotype-phenotype relationships of paraoxonase-1. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005 Mar; 14(3): 731-4.