Dr. Jen Tsan Chi

Biography

Dr. Jen-Tsan Ashley Chi is a Professor at the Duke Cancer Institute, focusing on functional genomic approaches to investigate nutrient signaling and stress adaptations in cancer cells exposed to nutrient deprivation and microenvironmental stress conditions. His research emphasizes understanding the genetic determinants of diseases involving ferroptosis, a recently recognized form of cell death characterized by iron dependency and lipid peroxidation. Dr. Chi has identified a mammalian stringent response pathway analogous to bacterial mechanisms, revealing novel genetic factors that regulate ferroptosis. His earlier work uncovered the concept of cystine addiction in renal cell carcinoma and various cancers, highlighting how cystine deprivation can induce ferroptosis through oxidative stresses. Additionally, he explores how the Hippo pathway effectors influence cell density and ferroptosis resistance. Chi's groundbreaking research over the years has impacted our understanding of stress responses in both tumor biology and red blood cell function, proposing new pathways and mechanisms for therapeutic intervention.

Research Interests

Experience