Dr. Guang Chen is Chief of the Unit on Molecular Neurotherapuetics, Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health. His long-term research goal is to reveal the underlying neurobiology of mood regulation, the pathophysiology of mood-disorders, and the mechanisms of the clinical actions of mood-stabilizers and antidepressants.

      Dr. Chen received his medical degree from Peking University Health Science Center in 1984. He then pursued psychiatry training at the Institute of Mental Health, Peking University from 1984 to 1989, during which time he earned his Ph.D. investigating the neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter dysfunctions in Depression. In 1989 Dr. Chen began post-doctoral training in psychopharmacology at the NIMH. Later, from 1992 to 1995 Dr. Chen held a position as Visiting Associate at the NIMH. During this time his research was focused upon the effects of mood-stabilizers and antidepressants on cell signaling and gene expression. His research revealed 1) downregulations of the cell surface beta-adrenergic receptors and the receptor stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by antidepressants in cultured cells, 2) differential regulations of receptor/G proteins/adenylate cyclase pathways by mood-stabilizers (e.g. lithium, valproate and carbamazepine) in human peripheral cells, rodent brain and cultured cells, 3) decreases in the level and stimulated activity of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms following mood stabilizer treatment, and 4) activation of AP-1 transcription factors by mood-stabilizers in rodent brain and cultured cells.

      In 1995 he moved to Wayne State University School of Medicine where he was an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Associate Director for Schizophrenia and Mood-disorder Clinical Research. While at Wayne State University Dr. Chen conducted a series of studies revealing that mood stabilizing medications produce multilevel molecular and cellular actions. These findings consist of actions on cell signaling (PKC and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases), transcription factor activity (AP-1, CREB, and ELK1), gene expression (Bcl2, cJun, and GAP-43), and long-term neuronal plasticity (including neurogenesis, neuritogenesis, and neuronal survival).

      In September 2000 Dr. Chen returned to NIMH and joined the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program. His unit relies on a multidisciplinary approach using the techniques of molecular biology, neurobiology, histochemistry, and rodent behavioral analysis. Current research in his unit is a direct extension of previous findings, of particular interest is the role of the MAP kinase pathway in mood modulation.

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