Dr. Shujuan Chen

Dr. Shujuan Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at UCSD. Born and raised in China, she completed her graduate research in Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). In 2000, she moved to UCSD to join Dr. Robert Tukey’s laboratory for postdoctoral training, where she was trained to use genetically modified animal models in the research of environmental toxicants. This foundational experience set the stage for her future research endeavors.

Dr. Chen's current research delves into the impact of environmental toxicants on neonatal development, focusing on metabolic and oxidative stress pathways. Her work has been published in prestigious journals such as Hepatology, Nature Communications, Environmental Health Perspectives, and PNAS. Her studies on inorganic arsenic (iAs) have explored how early-life oral iAs exposure affects intestinal tract development and lipid homeostasis, with significant implications for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Furthermore, Dr. Chen has investigated how oral iAs administration decreases ketogenesis, linking iAs exposure with the production of ketone bodies—an endogenous compound crucial for brain health during early life. These findings suggest underlying mechanisms for compromised brain development and intellectual impacts following arsenic exposure in early life.

Outside of work, Dr. Chen is happily married and enjoys the beautiful days in San Diego. She loves hiking, cooking, and spending time with her family. Her dream is to take a cross-country trip in an RV with her husband and their lovely dog, Hope.