Scientist, Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia
Office: BC Cancer Research Institute
675 West 10th Ave, Room 12.113, Vancouver, BC
Phone: (604) 675-8138
Email: clchen@bccrc.ca
Website: https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/tfl/labs/chen-lab
Research Interest
My lab studies epigenetic mechanisms of brain cancer and neurodevelopmental syndromes, with the goal of understanding how disease is initiated and maintained. We utilize an integrative approach leveraging multiple experimental methods (patient-derived samples, cerebral organoids, and transgenic animals) with state-of-the-art sequencing technologies to model, study, and to treat disease.
Current research projects
- Understanding how histone modifier mutations alter cell fate in the brain
- Identifying epigenetic drivers of childhood brain tumors
- Examining epigenetic rewiring as a therapeutic resistance mechanism
Recruiting
We are seeking outstanding and motivated graduate students with research interests in epigenetics, brain development, and cancer biology. Candidates should apply directly to Dr. Carol Chen at clchen@bccrc.ca with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, transcript, and contact detail for 3 referees.
Publications
Comprehensive List
Selected Publications
Single substitution in H3.3G34 alters DNMT3A recruitment to cause progressive neurodegeneration
Cell, 2023
Sima Khazaei, Carol C.L. Chen, Augusto Faria Andrade, Nisha Kabir, Pariya Azarafshar, Shahir M. Morcos, Josiane Alves França, Mariana Lopes, Peder J. Lund, Geoffroy Danieau, Samantha Worme, Lata Adnani, Nadine Nzirorera, Xiao Chen, Gayathri Yogarajah, Caterina Russo, Michele Zeinieh, Cassandra J. Wong, Laura Bryant, Steven Hébert, Bethany Tong, Tianna S. Sihota, Damien Faury, Evan Puligandla, Wajih Jawhar, Veronica Sandy, Mitra Cowan, Emily M. Nakada, Loydie A. Jerome-Majewska, Benjamin Ellezam, Carolina Cavalieri Gomes, Jonas Denecke, Davor Lessel, Marie T. McDonald, Carolyn E. Pizoli, Kathryn Taylor, Benjamin T. Cocanougher, Elizabeth J. Bhoj, Anne-Claude Gingras, Benjamin A. Garcia, Chao Lu, Eric I. Campos, Claudia L. Kleinman, Livia Garzia, Nada Jabado
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.023
Histone H3.3G34-Mutant Interneuron Progenitors Co-opt PDGFRA for Gliomagenesis
Cell, 2020
Carol C.L. Chen, Shriya Deshmukh, Selin Jessa, Djihad Hadjadj, Véronique Lisi, Augusto Faria Andrade, Damien Faury, Wajih Jawhar, Rola Dali, Hiromichi Suzuki, Manav Pathania, Deli A, Frank Dubois, Eleanor Woodward, Steven Hébert, Marie Coutelier, Jason Karamchandani, Steffen Albrecht, Sebastian Brandner, Nicolas De Jay, Tenzin Gayden, Andrea Bajic, Ashot S. Harutyunyan, Dylan M. Marchione, Leonie G. Mikael, Nikoleta Juretic, Michele Zeinieh, Caterina Russo, Nicola Maestro, Angelia V. Bassenden, Peter Hauser, József Virga, Laszlo Bognar, Almos Klekner, Michal Zapotocky, Ales Vicha, Lenka Krskova, Katerina Vanova, Josef Zamecnik, David Sumerauer, Paul G. Ekert, David S. Ziegler, Benjamin Ellezam, Mariella G. Filbin, Mathieu Blanchette, Jordan R. Hansford, Dong-Anh Khuong-Quang, Albert M. Berghuis, Alexander G. Weil, Benjamin A. Garcia, Livia Garzia, Stephen C. Mack, Rameen Beroukhim, Keith L. Ligon, Michael D. Taylor, Pratiti Bandopadhayay, Christoph Kramm, Stefan M. Pfister, Andrey Korshunov, Dominik Sturm, David T.W. Jones, Paolo Salomoni, Claudia L. Kleinman, Nada Jabado
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.012
Histone H3.3 K27M and K36M mutations de-repress transposable elements through perturbation of antagonistic chromatin marks
Molecular Cell, 2021
Amel Chaouch, Johannes Berlandi, Carol C.L. Chen, Felice Frey, Shireen Badini, Ashot S. Harutyunyan, Xiao Chen, Brian Krug, Steven Hébert, Astrid Jeibmann, Chao Lu, Claudia L. Kleinman, Martin Hasselblatt, Paul Lasko, Margret Shirinian, Nada Jabado
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2021.10.008
Oncohistones in brain tumors: the soil and seed
Trends in Cancer, 2023
Augusto Faria Andrade, Carol C.L. Chen, Nada Jabado
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2023.02.003
H3S10ph broadly marks early-replicating domains in interphase ESCs and shows reciprocal antagonism with H3K9me2
Genome Research, 2018
Carol CL Chen, Preeti Goyal, Mohammad M Karimi, Marie H Abildgaard, Hiroshi Kimura, Matthew C Lorincz