SPOTLIGHT on Chen Shen
February 19, 2026
The Midwest D-CFAR community is full of brilliant and inspiring people, and we want to introduce them to the world! For our February 2026 spotlight, we are featuring Chen Shen, PhD, an early stage investigator at WashU and Midwest D-CFAR member. Many thanks to Dr. Shen for taking the time to speak with us!
Could you briefly describe your career journey and research interests?
Chen Shen, PhD
Dr. Shen: I started my career as a chemist. In graduate school at Peking University, I received some training in molecular dynamics simulation of protein molecules and became deeply fascinated by experimentally determined three-dimensional protein structures. In my doctoral work, I focused on studying the structure and function of caspases involved in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. From there, I developed a keen interest in investigating the roles of innate immune proteins in different cell death pathways, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. I joined Dr. Hao Wu’s lab at Harvard Medical School for my postdoctoral training. The Wu Lab created a great environment for me to pursue my long-term interests related to innate immunity and death domain signaling.
In 2023, I joined the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine and established my own research laboratory, the Shen Lab. My current research directions include: (1) the structural study of pathogen-associated molecular patterns-innate immune receptor interactions, and (2) the structural and mechanistic study of the crosstalk between innate immune receptors and essential cellular processes.
What projects do you currently have ongoing?
Dr. Shen: We have several projects ongoing in the lab related to the inflammasomes, which are the important supramolecular machinery in innate immunity and inflammation. One of our major research focuses is studying the inhibition and activation of NLRP6, a gastrointestinal-specific inflammasome sensor that interacts with commensal microbiota. This sesnor defenses against pathogens in the GI tract and acts as a risk factor of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Dr. Shen and his family at a Christmas celebration.
Additionally, supported by a Midwest D-CFAR Investigator Pilot Award and an NIH R56 grant, we are investigating the crosstalk of CARD8 inflammasomes with HIV structural protein Gag and HIV viral RNAs. The goal of this work is to understand the sensing and evasion mechanisms of the CARD8 inflammasome during HIV-1 infection. I am working on these projects in collaboration with Dr. Sebla Kutluay in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Dr. Marilia Pinzone in the Division of Infectious Diseases. As an early-stage investigator, I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such a supportive and collaborative research community here at WashU.
What do you and your family like to do in your free time?
Dr. Shen: My family moved to St. Louis three years ago. We are now a family of four. During the weekends, we like to go hiking and explore new places throughout the Midwest.
Edited by Kate Gershwin.