5 Questions for Xin-yan Chen, PhD

This question-and-answer series explores the motivations, inspirations and accomplishments of investigators at St. Jude. Xin-yan Chen, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Chunliang Li, PhD, in the Department of Tumor Cell Biology.

1. What do you like most about being a scientist? 

The most beautiful thing about science, for me, is that the more we learn, the more we realize how much remains unknown. And this comes down to three things: First, the process of uncovering mysteries. Research is rarely straightforward — it requires a lot of effort and patience to move from observing something to understanding the complex network behind it. What may appear to be a small change often reflects a much larger biological system, and uncovering those connections is incredibly fascinating to me.

Second is the moment of discovery. In science, you sometimes have the chance to observe something completely new and begin the process of understanding how it works. Those moments are rare, but they are exciting and rewarding.

And third, the impact. Life is one of the most complex and beautiful systems in the world, yet we still understand so little about it. Being a scientist allows me to contribute even a small piece to that understanding, and hopefully use that knowledge to improve human health.

2. What questions are you trying to answer through your research?

Through my research, I aim to identify new therapeutic strategies for treating diseases. During my PhD, I approached this question from a broader perspective by studying traditional Chinese medicine and exploring how natural compounds could reveal new therapeutic opportunities. Here at St. Jude, my work has shifted to a more mechanistic level, focusing on how gene regulation drives disease development. Although the approaches are different, the core question remains the same: how can we uncover new ways to treat disease?

My current research focuses on KMT2A-rearranged leukemia, an aggressive leukemia with poor clinical outcomes. Many leukemia subtypes respond well to current therapies, but KMT2A-rearranged leukemia remains particularly challenging to treat. This subtype is characterized by DNA rearrangements involving KMT2A, which generate multiple fusion proteins and make direct therapeutic targeting difficult. A key downstream driver of this leukemia is the transcription factor HOXA9, but transcription factors are also hard to target therapeutically. Because of this, our research aims to understand the broader regulatory network that controls these oncogenic programs.

Recently, we have found that RNA modifications may represent an important regulatory layer in leukemia progression. Some RNA-modifying enzymes appear to create specific vulnerabilities in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia. This finding is inspiring for us, and we believe that understanding these mechanisms may open new possibilities for developing targeted therapies for this aggressive cancer.

3. What resources or capabilities set St. Jude apart as a great place to do research?

What sets St. Jude apart for me is its scientific community and the resources that support it. There are outstanding shared resources with amazing capabilities that support scientists. Molecular genetics is one of the strengths of St. Jude, which aligns closely with my research interests. Our institution has some of the most comprehensive genomics datasets and clinical data resources across many pediatric tumor types. These unique datasets provide a valuable foundation for our research.

Another thing that sets St. Jude apart is the collaborative culture. St. Jude hosts many seminars, conferences and workshops that help us grow, not only as scientists, but also as members of the broader research community. If you run into a question or challenge, it’s easy to reach out to colleagues, share ideas and get thoughtful feedback. Close collaboration between laboratory scientists and clinical investigators allows us to gain insights directly from the clinical side and makes it easier to translate discoveries from the bench to the bedside. This collaborative environment makes a big difference.

4. How have mentors at different stages of your training shaped your career?

Looking back, my mentors didn’t just teach me technical skills; they also shaped the way I think about science. During my undergraduate years at Xinjiang University, China, I was ambitious but also impatient. I often felt frustrated when experiments yielded negative results. My advisor, Wei Wu, PhD, a wonderful female scientist, encouraged me and helped me see things differently. She once told me, “Sometimes negative results are another form of positive.” Her advice helped me develop resilience and curiosity, which are essential for scientific research.

Graduate school was a long and challenging journey where almost everything in research was new to me. My PhD advisor, Hongbing Wang, PhD, at Tongji University, China, was incredibly patient and deeply committed to mentoring. One piece of advice he gave me has stayed with me. He said, “You don’t need to master every technique, but you need to know how to think about the scientific question.” He taught me to find my passion in research, stay committed to it and enjoy the process of discovery.

During my time working in industry, my mentors helped me broaden my perspective on science. They showed me how different parts of the research and development process connect and how scientific discoveries can translate into real-world applications. That experience helped me see science not only as discovery, but also as innovation.

Now at St. Jude, my mentor Chunliang Li, PhD, Department of Tumor Cell Biology, emphasizes the importance of deep reading and critical thinking. He often reminds us that scientific progress builds on the work of others and that learning from prior discoveries helps us avoid reinventing the wheel.

Across every stage of my training, my mentors have not only given me knowledge and skills, but also curiosity, resilience and perspective. Those lessons continue to guide how I approach science today.

5. What is one piece of advice you’d give to people considering careers in science?

Science is a long journey, so always remember the big question that inspired you in the first place – the curiosity that made you want to understand the unknown. It’s easy to become busy with experiments, but don’t be too busy; real insights often come from taking the time to pause and think. Most importantly, enjoy the process of exploration. I believe that if you stay curious and patient, the discoveries will follow.