Tong Chen, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Division of Medical Oncology

tong.chen@osumc.edu
614-293-2691
Website

Dr. Chen is physician-scientist who believes that cancer chemoprevention is a cornerstone of cancer control. She serves as an associate professor with tenure in the Division of Medical Oncology at The Ohio State University and as a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James, where she has established a vigorous laboratory team that has been supported by NIH grants since 2008.

Her lab team has been focusing on translational research, mainly molecular carcinogenesis and cancer chemoprevention of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using a variety of rodent models, in vitro systems and human clinical trials. One of the animal studies her lab uses is a carcinogen-induced rat model of esophageal SCC. This animal model mimics the neoplastic process occurring in humans and has been an extremely valuable tool for studying human esophageal SCC.

Her laboratory also conducts research to elucidate the mechanisms through which pure compounds and natural food products (like black raspberries and strawberries) help prevent esophageal carcinogenesis and identify biomarkers as novel preventive and therapeutic targets for this disease.

As a faculty member at Ohio State, she has been a mentor for individual students and other trainees, as well as an educator in the didactic setting. Most of her students have had impressive accomplishments that include receiving competitive awards, presenting work at national conferences, publishing original research and advancing their careers in medicine or academic science.

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