The overall goal of Dr. Chen’s work is to develop improved therapies for Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative disorders. After graduation with medical and PhD degrees from Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Dr. Chen pursued her first fellowship with Dr. A. William Tank to study gene regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase. She continued her postdoctoral training with Dr. Robert Burke at Columbia University, where she investigated signaling pathways relevant to dopaminergic neuron survival and degeneration.