Zhijian 'James' Chen is a biochemist whose work has transformed our understanding of cell signaling and innate immunity. He discovered a role of polyubiquitin chains in activating protein kinases in the NF-kB pathway through a proteasome-independent mechanism. He also discovered the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein MAVS, which plays a key role in immune defense against RNA viruses. In 2012, Chen discovered the DNA sensing enzyme cGAS and its product cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which functions as a second messenger that activates innate immune responses.
Chen has received numerous honors including the National Academy of Science Award in Molecular Biology (2012), Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences (2018), Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2019), Switzer Prize (2019), William B. Coley Award (2020), Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (2023), Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (2024), Qiushi Outstanding Scientist Award (2024), and Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize (2025). Chen is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine in USA.
Professional position
- Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Professor, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas
- Director, Inflammation Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas
