Pei-Yu Chen, PhD recently received a promotion to senior research scientist (cardiovascular medicine) in 2022. Chen received her PhD from the University of Maine and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine.
Chen's work focuses on the transforming growth factor beta family, which is correlated with many rare and common diseases. We recently spoke to Chen about her work, including her new venture to use a lipid nanoparticle to more safely and effectively deliver drugs.
Tell us about your research.
My research aims to understand why the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily is correlated with so many inherited diseases (like Loeys-Dietz disease and Friedrich’s Ataxia) and non-inherited diseases (like diabetes, atherosclerosis, aneurysms, and pulmonary hypertension).
How did you become interested in this work?
As a PhD student, I studied another molecule, called fibroblast growth factor (FGF), in petri dishes. After my PhD, I wanted to better understand how FGF behaves in the body. That research led me to realize that FGF and TGFβ have some correlation. They must be well-balanced, or the imbalance will affect many cells, potentially causing inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.
What does your promotion mean to you?
Becoming promoted to a senior research scientist means my hard work pays off. I have put so much knowledge, effort, and time into this research, and I know it was worthwhile.
What are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am especially proud that I co-founded a start-up venture, VasoRx, through Yale Ventures in 2018. Through this venture, we developed a specialized drug delivery vehicle called a lipid nanoparticle, which is like a Tesla in the human body: it can autopilot to a specific cell type to release drugs.
Our new drug delivery platform opens up a lot of solutions for drug delivery as it can decrease unwanted toxicities, mediate a safe and targeted cell delivery, reduce side effects, and improve symptoms. We are hoping to start clinical trials in humans soon.
It’s an honor to participate in this activity outside academia and meet experts in other fields, like chemistry and manufacturing. I’m a lifelong learner, and this work allows me to fulfill my need to keep expanding my knowledge.
What would you tell students considering a research career?
Number one, research is a lifelong event. It’s a Crock-Pot slow cooker, not a microwave. Nine out of ten of your hypotheses will fail. You need to have the mindset to keep going and to think ahead about multiple solutions.
But if you are someone who can be consistent and dedicated, it will pay off in the end.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
It is a privilege to know and work with all these great scientists and to continue to fulfill my knowledge. I just keep learning and growing.
We also support each other in the lab. If something goes wrong and I have a bad day, I know my students and colleagues will be there to cheer me on. I’m their cheerleader, too. We learn from what doesn’t work and think ahead to what’s next.
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