Qian Chen, PhD, is the director of the Brown University Health Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for Skeletal Health and Repair. For more than 12 years, he and a team of scientists, clinicians, and engineers at Rhode Island Hospital investigated new treatments for osteoarthritis, which led to the development of Nanopieces, a miniscule tube-like vehicle with a powerful delivery system to specifically target a disease gene with a sustained, efficient, and nontoxic therapy. Rhode Island Hospital was granted a patent for Nanopieces by the US Patent and Trademark Office on July 18, 2023.
As its name indicates, Nanopieces is able to provide a unique, non-harmful way to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, a network of blood vessels and tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain. The product may potentially help in the treatment of bone cancers, dementia, and autoimmune diseases.
An accomplished researcher in the prevention and early treatment of arthritis and other joint diseases, Dr. Chen has received more than $30 million in funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds as principal investigator during the past fifteen years. His research focuses on skeletal development, fracture healing, and cartilage and bone repair. Research includes the investigation of how mechanical stress regulates bone growth and regeneration, and how to improve early diagnosis and joint repair during arthritis.
Throughout his decades-long career, Dr. Chen has made extensive contributions to national and international scientific and medical journals as a co-author of hundreds of peer-reviewed articles related to his research. He has received notable awards within his field included the Independent Scientist Award from NIH, the Satterfield Arthritis Investigator Award from Arthritis Foundation, and the Kappa Delta Award from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Dr. Chen is the Michael G. Ehrlich, MD Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Research, Professor of Medical Science, and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Orthopaedics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He has served on advisory committees in academic institutions throughout the United States.
Dr. Chen earned a doctor of philosophy degree in cell, molecular, and development biology from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his fellowship training in cell and molecular biology at Harvard Medical School. He maintains memberships with numerous professional societies including the American Society for Cell Biology, New York Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.