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Sidi Chen, PhD

Associate Professor of Genetics and of Neurosurgery

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Sidi Chen, PhD

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Appointments

Biography

Sidi Chen joined the Yale Faculty in 2015 in the Department of Genetics, Systems Biology Institute, and Yale Cancer Center. His research focuses on providing a global understanding of biological systems and development of novel breakthrough therapeutics. Chen developed and applied genome editing and high-throughput screening technologies, precision CRISPR-based in vivo models of cancer, global mapping of functional drivers of cancer oncogenesis and metastasis. He is leading a research group to seek global understandings of the molecular and cellular factors controlling disease progression and immunity. His group continuously invents versatile systems that enable rapid identification of novel targets and development of new modalities of cancer immunotherapy, cell therapy and gene therapy. His goal is to uncover novel insights in cancer and various other immunological diseases and develop next generation therapeutics.

Dr. Chen received a number of national and international awards including the Pershing Square Sohn Prize, DoD Era of Hope Scholar, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Blavatnik Innovator Award, Yale Cancer Center Basic Science Research Prize, AACR NextGen Award for Transformative Cancer Research, Ludwig Foundation Award, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fellow, Dale Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists, TMKF Innovative/Translation Cancer Research Award, BCA Exceptional Research Grant Award, MRA Young Investigator Award, V Scholar, Bohmfalk Scholar, Ludwig Family Foundation Award, St. Baldrick’s Foundation Award, CRI Clinic & Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP), MIT Technology Review Top 35 Innovators (Regional), and Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award.

Education & Training

  • Visiting Postdoc
    Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (2015)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    MIT (2015)
  • PhD
    The University of Chicago (2011)
  • Visiting Student
    Stanford University (2009)

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
Pershing Square Sohn PrizePershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance2021
DoD Era of Hope Scholar AwardDoD BCRP2020
Yale Cancer Center Basic Science Research PrizeYale Cancer Center2020
Blavatnik Innovator AwardYale University Blavatnik Fund2019
Distinguished Scientist AwardSontag Foundation2018
NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2)NIH OD / NCI2018
Ludwig Family Foundation2018
Bohmfalk Scholar in Medical Research2017
LCRP Idea Development AwardDepartment of Defense2017
AACR NextGen Award for Transformative Cancer ResearchAACR2017
Exceptional Research Grant AwardBreast Cancer Alliance2017
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Award2016
Young Investigator AwardMelanoma Research Alliance2016
Dale Frey Award for Breakthrough ScientistsDamon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation2015
Damon Runyon Cancer Research FellowshipDamon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation2012
Best Dissertation AwardThe University of Chicago2011
Chair’s Special Award, Best PresentationGordon Research Conference2011
National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement GrantNational Science Foundation2010
Chun-Tsung ScholarTsung-Dao Lee Foundation2002

Departments & Organizations