Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.

• 2021 – present – Director – Craniofacial Biology, Graduate Program, Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
• 2020 – present – Associate Professor – Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
• 2017 – 2020 – Assistant Professor – Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
• 2014 – 2017 – Assistant Professor – Dept. of Genetics, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia
• 2009 – 2013 – Postdoctoral Fellow – the lab of Dr. Lee Niswander, University of Colorado Denver

• 2014-2016 – R00 Research Transition Award (4R00HD073269) National Institute of Health
• 2012-2013 – K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (1 K99 HD073269) National Institute of Health
• 2009-2012 – Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Fellow
• 2008 – Linda Dykstra Distinguished Dissertation Award at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)
• 2006 – Abstract-driven travel award at Frontiers in Myogenesis Meeting in Georgia
• 2002-2004 – Joseph T. and Ann L. Davis Memorial Scholarship at Kansas State University

Multiplex meningeal lymphatic activation for Alzheimer’s disease – Grant # R21 AG089268

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 08/15/2024-05/31/2026
• Goal: The goal of this project is to establish multiplex brain lymphatic activation strategies as a therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease.

Mapping temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degeneration and pain – Grant # R01 DE033511

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 07/01/2024-06/30/2029
• Goal: This study will establish a high dimensional map of TMJ with or without OA at single cell and 3-D resolutions and validate Netrin-1/Dcc as a new therapeutic target for TMJOA.

MSC implantation as a treatment for developmental brain defects in craniosynostosis – Grant #1 R01 NS136377

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 06/01/2024-05/31/2029
• Goal: This study seeks to provide the preclinical validation of MSC implantation as a better therapeutic strategy over the surgical approach in current clinical practice for brain deficits in craniosynostosis, which is crucial for advances in stem cell-mediated treatment of craniosynostosis.

Brain lymphatic activation for craniosynostosis and Alzheimer’s disease – Grant #1 RF1 NS137467

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 06/01/2024-05/31/2027
• Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate how the brain lymphatic system can be rejuvenated to treat neurological disorders such as craniosynostosis and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Center for TMD IMPACT – Grant # R34 DE033572

• Principal Investigator: Yang Chai, D.D.S., Ph.D., Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: NIH
• Period: 09/19/2023-09/18/2024
• Goal: To assemble a comprehensive multi-institutional Center for TMD Improving Patient-Centered Translational Research (C-TMD IMPACT) including clinicians, research scientists, regulatory experts, and clinical trial specialists to advance basic and clinical research, research training, and evidence-based treatment for TMDs.

Neurovascular functions of a small RNA Snord118-mediated ribosome biogenesis – Grant # R21 DE075665

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: NIH
• Period: 02/01/2022-01/31/2024
• Goal: To establish new genetically modified mice to model small vessel diseases (SVD) and to investigate the function of ribosome biogenesis in neurovascular unit (NVU) cells.

Selective neurovascular regulation by a vascular regulation by a vascular dementia-related noncoding RNA Snord118  – Grant #1 R21 AG070681

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 05/15/2022-04/30/2024
• Goal: The proposal investigates a small vessel disease caused by mutations in noncoding RNA Snord118, with the goal of improving our understanding of neurovascular biology under pathophysiological conditions.

Mechanisms and rescue of craniosynostosis associated with gene-environment interaction – Grant #5 R01 DE0030901

• Principal Investigator: Jianfu Chen, Ph.D., Yang Chai, D.D.S., Ph.D.
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
• Period: 07/01/2021-04/30/2026
• Goal: The major goal of this project will improve our understanding of gene-environment interaction in craniosynostosis and guide our therapeutic efforts in MSC-mediated tissue regeneration in treating craniosynostosis.

1. Zhang W, Zhang M, Ma L, Jariyasakulroj S, Chang Q, Lin Z, Lu Z, Chen JF. Impaired phase separation and nucleolar functions in hiPSC models of SNORD118-related ribosomopathies. iScience, Volume 27, Issue 8, 2024, 110430, ISSN 2589-0042, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110430.

2. Zhang W, Zhang M, Ma L, Jariyasakulroj S, Chang Q, Lin Z, Lu Z, Chen JF. Recapitulating and reversing human brain ribosomopathy defects via the maladaptive integrated stress response. Sci Adv. 2024 Feb 2;10(5):eadk1034. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1034. Epub 2024 Feb 2. PMID: 38306425; PMCID: PMC10836730.

3. Ma L, Wang F, Li Y, Wang J, Chang Q, Du Y, Sadan J, Zhao Z, Fan G, Yao B, Chen JF. (2023) Brain methylome remodeling selectively regulates neuronal activity genes linking to emotional behaviors in mice exposed to maternal immune activation. Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 29;14(1):7829. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43497-4. PMID: 38030616; PMCID: PMC10687003

4. Jariyasakulroj S, Zhang W, Bai J, Zhang M, Lu Z, Chen JF. (2023) Ribosome biogenesis controls cranial suture MSC fate via the complement pathway in mouse and human iPSC models. Stem Cell Reports. 2023 Dec 12;18(12):2370-2385. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.015. Epub 2023 Nov 16. PMID: 37977145; PMCID: PMC10724072

5. Pei F, Ma L, Guo T, Zhang M, Jing J, Wen Q, Feng J, Lei J, He J, Janečková E, Ho TV, Chen JF, Chai Y. Sensory nerve regulates progenitor cells via FGF-SHH axis in tooth root morphogenesis. Development. 2024 Jan 15;151(2):dev202043. doi: 10.1242/dev.202043. Epub 2024 Jan 11. PMID: 38108472.

6. Ma L, Chang Q, Pei F, Liu M, Zhang W, Hong YK, Chai Y, Chen JF. Skull progenitor cell-driven meningeal lymphatic restoration improves neurocognitive functions in craniosynostosis. Cell Stem Cell. 2023 Nov 2;30(11):1472-1485.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.012. Epub 2023 Oct 19. PMID: 37863055; PMCID: PMC10842404.

7. Pei F, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Han X, Ho TV, Lei J, He J, Zhang M, Chen JF, Chai Y. Sensory nerve niche regulates mesenchymal stem cell homeostasis via FGF/mTOR/autophagy axis. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 20;14(1):344. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-35977-4. PMID: 36670126; PMCID: PMC9859800.

8. Ma L, Liang C, Wang J, Chang Q, Wang Y, Zhang W, Du Y, Sadan J, Chen JF. (2022) Reversing lysosome-ribosome circuit dysregulation mitigates C9FTD/ALS neurodegeneration and behaviors. Hum Mol Genet. 2023 Apr 6;32(8):1252-1265. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddac271. PMID: 36322143; PMCID: PMC10077508.

9. Stanton E, Urata M, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2022) The clinical manifestations, molecular mechanisms, and treatment of craniosynostosis. Dis Model Mech. 2022 Apr 1;15(4):dmm049390. doi: 10.1242/dmm.049390. Epub 2022 Apr 22. PMID: 35451466; PMCID: PMC9044212.

10. Ma L, Wang J, Ge J, Wang Y, Zhang W, Du Y, Luo J, Li Y, Wang F, Fan G, Chen R, Yao B, Zhao Z, Guo ML, Kim WK, Chai Y, Chen JF. (2021) Reversing neural circuit and behavior deficit in mice exposed to maternal inflammation by Zika virus. EMBO Rep. 2021 Aug 4;22(8):e51978. doi: 10.15252/embr.202051978. Epub 2021 Jul 7. PMID: 34232545; PMCID: PMC8344882.

11. Wu Y, Wu H, Zeng J, Pluimer B, Dong S, Xie X, Guo X, Ge T, Liang X, Feng S, Yan Y, Chen JF, Sta Maria N, Ma Q, Gomez-Pinilla F, Zhao Z. (2021) Mild traumatic brain injury induces microvascular injury and accelerates Alzheimer-like pathogenesis in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2021 Apr 23;9(1):74. doi:10.1186/s40478-021-01178-7. PMID: 33892818; PMCID: PMC8063402.

12. Yu M, Ma L, Yuan Y, Ye X, Montagne A, He J, Ho TV, Wu Y, Zhao Z, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Urata M, Wang H, Zlokovic BV, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2021) Cranial Suture Regeneration Mitigates Skull and Neurocognitive Defects in Craniosynostosis. Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):243-256.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.037. PMID: 33417861; PMCID: PMC7891303.

13. Zhang M, Li K, Bai J, Velema WA, Yu C, van Damme R, Lee WH, Corpuz ML, Chen JF, Lu Z. (2021) Optimized photochemistry enables efficient analysis of dynamic RNA structuromes and interactomes in genetic and infectious diseases. Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 20;12(1):2344. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22552-y. PMID: 33879794; PMCID:PMC8058046.

14. Zeng J, Dong S, Luo Z, Xie X, Fu B, Li P, Liu C, Yang X, Chen Y, Wang X, Liu Z, Wu J, Yan Y, Wang F, Chen JF, Zhang J, Long G, Goldman SA, Li S, Zhao Z, Liang Q. (2020) The Zika Virus Capsid Disrupts Corticogenesis by Suppressing Dicer Activity and miRNA Biogenesis. Cell Stem Cell. 2020 Oct 1;27(4):618-632.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.07.012. Epub 2020 Aug 6. PMID: 32763144; PMCID: PMC7541724.

15. Zhang W, Ma L, Yang M, Shao Q, Xu J, Lu Z, Zhao Z, Chen R, Chai Y, Chen JF. (2020) Cerebral organoid and mouse models reveal a RAB39b-PI3K-mTOR pathway-dependent dysregulation of cortical development leading to macrocephaly/autism phenotypes. Genes Dev. 2020 Apr 1;34(7-8):580-597. doi: 10.1101/gad.332494.119. Epub 2020 Feb 27. PubMed PMID: 32115408; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7111266.

16. Shao Q, Yang M, Liang C, Ma L, Zhang W, Jiang Z, Luo J, Lee JK, Liang C, Chen JF. (2020) C9orf72 and smcr8 mutant mice reveal MTORC1 activation due to impaired lysosomal degradation and exocytosis. Autophagy. 2020 Sep;16(9):1635-1650. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1703353. Epub 2019 Dec 26. PMID: 31847700; PMCID: PMC8386604.

17. Liang C, Shao Q, Zhang W, Yang M, Chang Q, Chen R, Chen JF. (2019) Smcr8 deficiency disrupts axonal transport-dependent lysosomal function and promotes axonal swellings and gain of toxicity in C9ALS/FTD mouse models. Hum Mol Genet. 2019 Dec 1;28(23):3940-3953. PubMed PMID: 31625563; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7282195.

18. Zhang W, Yang SL, Yang M, Herrlinger S, Shao Q, Collar JL, Fierro E, Shi Y, Liu A, Lu H, Herring BE, Guo ML, Buch S, Zhao Z, Xu J, Lu Z, Chen JF. (2019) Modeling microcephaly with cerebral organoids reveals a WDR62-CEP170-KIF2A pathway promoting cilium disassembly in neural progenitors. Nat Commun. 2019 Jun 13;10(1):2612. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10497-2. PubMed PMID: 31197141; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6565620.

19. Herrlinger S, Shao Q, Yang M, Chang Q, Liu Y, Pan X, Yin H, Xie LW, Chen JF. (2019) Lin28-mediated temporal promotion of protein synthesis is crucial for neural progenitor cell maintenance and brain development in mice. Development. 2019 May 28;146(10). pii: dev173765. doi: 10.1242/dev.173765. PubMed PMID: 31064784; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6550015.

20. Shao Q, Liang C, Chang Q, Zhang W, Yang M, Chen JF. (2019) C9orf72 deficiency promotes motor deficitsof a C9ALS/FTD mouse model in a dose-dependent manner. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019 Mar 4;7(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0685-7. PubMed PMID: 30832726; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6398253.

21. Herrlinger SA, Shao Q, Ma L, Brindley M, Chen JF. (2018) Establishing Mouse Models for Zika Virus-induced Neurological Disorders Using Intracerebral Injection Strategies: Embryonic, Neonatal, and Adult. J Vis Exp. 2018 Apr 26;(134). doi:10.3791/56486. PubMed PMID: 29757270; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6035874.

22. Dong K, Guo X, Chen W, Hsu AC, Shao Q, Chen JF, Chen SY. (2018) Mesenchyme Homeobox 1 mediates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced smooth muscle cell differentiation from mouse mesenchymal progenitors. J Biol Chem. 2018 Jun 1;293(22):8712-8719. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.002350. Epub 2018 Apr 20. PubMed PMID: 29678882; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5986210.

23. Wang YC, Chuang YH, Shao Q, Chen JF, Chen SY. (2018) Brain cytoplasmic RNA 1 suppresses smooth muscle differentiation and vascular development in mice. J Biol Chem. 2018 Apr 13;293(15):5668-5678. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA117.001578. Epub 2018 Feb 21. PubMed PMID: 29467228; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5900757.

24. Shao Q, Herrlinger S, Zhu YN, Yang M, Goodfellow F, Stice SL, Qi XP, Brindley MA, Chen JF. (2017) The African Zika virus MR-766 is more virulent and causes more severe brain damage than current Asian lineage and Dengue virus. Development. 2017 Nov 15;144(22):4114-4124. doi: 10.1242/dev.156752. Epub 2017 Oct 9. PubMed PMID: 28993398; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5719247.

25. Shao Q, Herrlinger S, Yang SL, Lai F, Moore JM, Brindley MA, Chen JF. (2016) Zika virus infection disrupts neurovascular development and results in postnatal microcephaly with brain damage. Development. 2016 Nov 15;143(22):4127-4136. Epub 2016 Oct 11. PubMed PMID: 27729407; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5117220.

26. Yang M, Liang C, Swaminathan K, Herrlinger S, Lai F, Shiekhattar R, Chen JF. (2016) A C9ORF72/SMCR8-containing complex regulates ULK1 and plays a dual role in autophagy. Sci Adv. 2016 Sep 2;2(9):e1601167. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1601167.eCollection 2016 Sep. PubMed PMID: 27617292; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5010369.

27. Yang SL, Yang M, Herrlinger S, Liang C, Lai F, Chen JF. (2015) MiR-302/367 regulate neural progenitor proliferation, differentiation timing, and survival in neurulation. Dev Biol. 2015 Dec 1;408(1):140-50. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.09.020. Epub 2015 Oct 9. PubMed PMID: 26441343; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4688151.

28. Yang M, Yang SL, Herrlinger S, Liang C, Dzieciatkowska M, Hansen KC, Desai R, Nagy A, Niswander L, Moss EG, Chen JF. (2015) Lin28 promotes the proliferative capacity of neural progenitor cells in brain development. Development. 2015 May 1;142(9):1616-27. doi: 10.1242/dev.120543. PubMed PMID: 25922525; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4419280.

29. Chen JF, Zhang Y, Wilde J, Hansen KC, Lai F, Niswander L. (2014) Microcephaly disease gene Wdr62 regulates mitotic progression of embryonic neural stem cells and brain size. Nat Commun. 2014 May 30;5:3885. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4885. PubMed PMID: 24875059; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4216695.

30. Harmacek L, Watkins-Chow DE, Chen J, Jones KL, Pavan WJ, Salbaum JM, Niswander L. (2014) A unique missense allele of BAF155, a core BAF chromatin remodeling complex protein, causes neural tube closure defects in mice. Dev Neurobiol. 2014 May;74(5):483-97. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22142. Epub 2014 Jan 9. PubMed PMID: 24170322; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4670623.

31. Chen J, Lai F, Niswander L. (2012) The ubiquitin ligase mLin41 temporally promotes neural progenitor cell maintenance through FGF signaling. Genes Dev. 2012 Apr 15;26(8):803-15. doi: 10.1101/gad.187641.112. Erratum in: Genes Dev. 2012 Jun 15;26(12):1392. PubMed PMID: 22508726; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3337455.

32. Huang ZP, Young Seok H, Zhou B, Chen J, Chen JF, Tao Y, Pu WT, Wang DZ. (2012) CIP, a cardiac Isl1-interacting protein, represses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Circ Res. 2012 Mar 16;110(6):818-30. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.259663. Epub 2012 Feb 16. PubMed PMID: 22343712; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3307880.

33. Tao Y, Neppl RL, Huang ZP, Chen J, Tang RH, Cao R, Zhang Y, Jin SW, Wang DZ. (2011) The histone methyltransferase Set7/9 promotes myoblast differentiation and myofibril assembly. J Cell Biol. 2011 Aug 22;194(4):551-65. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201010090. PubMed PMID: 21859860; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3160588.

34. Deng Z, Chen JF, Wang DZ. (2011) Transgenic overexpression of miR-133a in skeletal muscle. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011 May 26;12:115. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-12-115. PubMed PMID: 21615921; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3125252.

35. Huang ZP, Chen JF, Regan JN, Maguire CT, Tang RH, Dong XR, Majesky MW, Wang DZ. (2010) Loss of microRNAs in neural crest leads to cardiovascular syndromes resembling human congenital heart defects. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Dec;30(12):2575-86. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.213306. Epub 2010 Sep 30. PubMed PMID: 20884876; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2988089.

36. Chen JF, Tao Y, Li J, Deng Z, Yan Z, Xiao X, Wang DZ. (2010) microRNA-1 and microRNA-206 regulate skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by repressing Pax7. J Cell Biol. 2010 Sep 6;190(5):867-79. doi:10.1083/jcb.200911036. PubMed PMID: 20819939; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2935565.

37. Callis TE, Pandya K, Seok HY, Tang RH, Tatsuguchi M, Huang ZP, Chen JF, Deng Z, Gunn B, Shumate J, Willis MS, Selzman CH, Wang DZ. (2009) MicroRNA-208a is a regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and conduction in mice. J Clin Invest. 2009 Sep;119(9):2772-86. doi: 10.1172/JCI36154. Epub 2009 Aug 10. PubMed PMID:19726871; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2735902.

38. Chen JF, Callis TE, Wang DZ. (2009) microRNAs and muscle disorders. J Cell Sci. 2009 Jan 1;122(Pt 1):13-20. doi: 10.1242/jcs.041723. Review. PubMed PMID: 19092056; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2714401.

39. Chen JF, Wang S, Wu Q, Cao D, Nguyen T, Chen Y, Wang DZ. (2008) Myocardin marks the earliest cardiac gene expression and plays an important role in heart development. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2008 Oct;291(10):1200-11. doi: 10.1002/ar.20756. PubMed PMID: 18780304; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2694184.

40. Callis TE, Deng Z, Chen JF, Wang DZ. (2008) Muscling through the microRNA world. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2008 Feb;233(2):131-8. doi: 10.3181/0709-MR-237. Review. PubMed PMID: 18222968.

41. Chen JF, Murchison EP, Tang R, Callis TE, Tatsuguchi M, Deng Z, Rojas M, Hammond SM, Schneider MD, Selzman CH, Meissner G, Patterson C, Hannon GJ, Wang DZ. (2008) Targeted deletion of Dicer in the heart leads to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Feb 12;105(6):2111-6. doi:10.1073/pnas.0710228105. Epub 2008 Feb 6. PubMed PMID: 18256189; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2542870.

42. Callis TE, Chen JF, Wang DZ. (2007) MicroRNAs in skeletal and cardiac muscle development. DNA Cell Biol. 2007 Apr;26(4):219-25. Review. PubMed PMID: 17465888.

43. Tatsuguchi M, Seok HY, Callis TE, Thomson JM, Chen JF, Newman M, Rojas M, Hammond SM, Wang DZ. (2007) Expression of microRNAs is dynamically regulated during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2007 Jun;42(6):1137-41. Epub 2007 Apr 14. PubMed PMID: 17498736; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1934409.

44. Chen JF, Mandel EM, Thomson JM, Wu Q, Callis TE, Hammond SM, Conlon FL, Wang DZ. (2006) The role of microRNA-1 and microRNA-133 in skeletal muscle proliferation and differentiation. Nat Genet. 2006 Feb;38(2):228-33. Epub 2005 Dec 25. PubMed PMID:16380711; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2538576.

45. Shan L, Oh HS, Chen J, Guo M, Zhou J, Alfano JR, Collmer A, Jia X, Tang X. (2004) The HopPtoF locus of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 encodes a type III chaperone and a cognate effector. Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2004 May;17(5):447-55. PubMed PMID: 15141948.