Dr. Jean Chen

Early life

Dr. Jean Chen embarked on her academic journey by earning an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 2004. She continued her pursuit of expertise by completing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at McGill University in 2009. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Chen conducted postdoctoral research on multimodal MRI of brain aging at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the Harvard Medical School in 2011. In the same year, she joined the Department of Medical Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto as faculty.

Currently, Dr. Chen holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. She is also a Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute and holds the esteemed Tier II Canada Research Chair in Neuroimaging of Aging. Additionally, Dr. Chen heads the Chen Lab, a dynamic research initiative focused on Advanced Neuroimaging using MRI.

Career

Dr. Chen’s research innovations are at the forefront of neuroimaging technology. She has developed pioneering techniques, leveraging various MRI modalities, including resting state functional MRI (fMRI), arterial spin labeling MRI, cerebrovascular-reactivity mapping, diffusion MRI, and simultaneous EEG-fMRI. These cutting-edge methods provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate link between brain metabolism and vascular health in contexts such as healthy aging, mild cognitive impairment, late-life depression, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.

Net Worth

No details known

Achievement

Dr. Chen’s work has resulted in the demonstration, for the first time, of distinctive patterns of vascular and structural changes in normal aging. This groundbreaking research has not only expanded our understanding of the aging process but has also directly influenced the development of a new imaging processing methodology with broad applications in the aging community.

Dr. Chen’s contributions extend beyond her research laboratory, as evidenced by her active involvement in prestigious editorial roles She serves on the board of several prominent journals, including Neuroimage, Frontiers Neuroscience – Brain Imaging Methods, The Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, Aging Brain, and Aperture Neuro. She is also a proud member of key professional organizations, including the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Dr. Chen’s innovative contributions to the field of neuroimaging, coupled with her extensive academic and research achievements, have solidified her position as a leading figure in Canadian medical research. Her work continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of age-related neurological diseases, bringing hope for improved diagnosis, treatment and overall neurological well-being.