Dr. Chen is a medical oncologist and specializes in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Her research interests revolve around understanding host-microbial interactions that regulate colorectal cancer and responses to cancer treatment. Work from her laboratory demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiota in affecting colorectal cancer susceptibility. Her laboratory also discovered how certain innate immune receptors can modulate the composition of the gut microbiota and inflammatory responses to protect the development of colon tumors. She is currently working on multiple collaborative projects investigating the impact of specific diets and their metabolites on the development of inflammation and cancer in the colon, the effect of specific gut bacteria on modulating colon cancer risk and rectal cancer treatment responses, the role of innate immunity in regulating intestinal homeostasis, and the role of specific circulating RNA fragments in colorectal cancer progression. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, United States Department of Agriculture, and the American Cancer Society.