Chen, John, MD, PhD

Associate Professor

Radiologist

Phone: 617-643-7071
Email: jwchen@mgh.harvard.edu
Lab: Chen, John

Dr. Chen is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Attending Clinician (Neuroradiology) at MGH. Dr. Chen is a graduate of the University of Illinois (MD, PhD in physical chemistry) and completed his radiology residency at MGH in 2004 and neuroradiology fellowship also at MGH in 2005. He has won multiple awards including the MGH Wyman Award, RSNA and Dana Foundation Awards, as well as grants from the NIH and DoD. He is the director of the newly established Institute for Innovation in Imaging at MGH. Dr. Chen's laboratory performs basic and translational studies to better understand neuroinflammation. In particular, the laboratory investigates the roles of molecular pathways and innate immune processes related to activated microglia in important neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. A key aspect of the research is in deciphering complex in vivo biology by using innovative molecular imaging technologies, targeted molecular treatments, advanced experimental models as well as human trials. Ultimately Dr. Chen hopes to advance the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases by developing novel imaging and treatment strategies.

Selected Publications (from total 91)

  • Atkinson W*, Forghani R*, Wojtkiewicz GR, Pulli B, Iwamoto Y, Ueno T, Waterman P, Truelove J, Oklu R, Chen JW Ligation of the Jugular Veins Does Not Result in Brain Inflammation or Demyelination in Mice. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(3):e33671 - PMID: 22457780 - PMCID: PMC3310075 - DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033671

  • Forghani R, Wojtkiewicz GR, Zhang Y, Seeburg D, Bautz BR, Pulli B, Milewski AR, Atkinson WL, Iwamoto Y, Zhang ER, Etzrodt M, Rodriguez E, Robbins CS, Swirski FK, Weissleder R, Chen JW Demyelinating Diseases: Myeloperoxidase as an Imaging Biomarker and Therapeutic Target. Radiology. 2012;263(2):451-60 - PMID: 22438365 - PMCID: PMC3329272 - DOI: 10.1148/radiol.12111593

  • Su HS, Nahrendorf M, Panizzi PR, Breckwoldt MO, Rodriguez E, Iwamoto Y, Aikawa E, Weissleder R, Chen JW Vasculitis: Molecular Imaging by Targeting the Inflammatory Enzyme Myeloperoxidase. Radiology. 2011;262(1):181-90 - PMID: 22084204 - PMCID: PMC3244672 - DOI: 10.1148/radiol.11110040

  • Rodriguez E, Nilges M, Weissleder R, Chen JW Activatable magnetic resonance imaging agents for myeloperoxidase sensing: mechanism of activation, stability, and toxicity. J Am Chem Soc. 2010;132(1):168-77 - PMID: 19968300 - PMCID: PMC2802665 - DOI: 10.1021/ja905274f

  • Ronald JA*, Chen JW*, Chen Y, Hamilton AM, Rodriguez E, Reynolds F, Hegele RA, Rogers KA, Querol M, Bogdanov A, Weissleder R, Rutt BK Enzyme-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Targeting Myeloperoxidase Identifies Active Inflammation in Experimental Rabbit Atherosclerotic Plaques. Circulation. 2009;120(7):592-9 - PMID: 19652086 - PMCID: PMC2736635 - DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.813998

  • McCann CM, Waterman P, Figueiredo JL, Aikawa E, Weissleder R, Chen JW Combined magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging of the living mouse brain reveals glioma response to chemotherapy. Neuroimage. 2008;45(2):360-9 - PMID: 19154791 - PMCID: PMC2707831 - DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.12.022

  • Breckwoldt M*, Chen JW*, Stangenberg L, Aikawa E, Rodriguez E, Qiu S, Moskowitz M, Weissleder R Tracking the Inflammatory Response in Stroke in Vivo by Sensing the Enzyme Myeloperoxidase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105 (47):18584-18589 - PMID: 19011099 - PMCID: PMC2587593 - DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803945105

  • Chen JW, Breckwoldt MO, Aikawa E, Chiang G, Weissleder R Myeloperoxidase-targeted imaging of active inflammatory lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Brain. 2008;131(Pt 4):1123-33 - PMID: 18234693 - PMCID: PMC4044727 - DOI: 10.1093/brain/awn004

  • Chen JW, Querol Sans M, Bogdanov Jr A, Weissleder R Imaging of myeloperoxidase in mice by using novel amplifiable paramagnetic substrates. Radiology. 2006;240 (2):473-81 - PMID: 16864673 - DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2402050994