https://www.achenlab.org/contact daily 0.75 2020-07-18 https://www.achenlab.org/research daily 1.0 2022-06-09 https://www.achenlab.org/publications daily 0.75 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1660599751096-G9P7UQPRIPYNBVFNA8A1/frontiers-psychology-logo-220x220.jpg Publications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595134271309-QJKCXQHYHVS5DFNAHJL8/PLoS.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595130745371-2UHLY1MLDBHJIFQ9JO8W/trends+in+Neurosci.gif Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595131724450-LRE2BZDL8NTCU0Y6QVK2/PNAS+2009.gif Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595132867906-ZX2JCUQQ5D6BWCZBSJB3/Screenshot+2020-07-19+00.27.03.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595132723294-R4OB8RQ6XY0ULJJVYY3Q/PNAS+2011.gif Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595132559098-UEFCUOYNXAHT06S3LMYK/pigment+cell+melanoma.gif Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/3761ed85-1096-4cb0-98ef-7981d5047eec/Screenshot+2025-07-16+170627.png Publications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595132318712-0LF1CZIHK9QD2PNDHCWR/Genes%26Cancer.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1614651763880-UQ5JX9MS18BEQ15DFQD6/Image+3-1-21+at+9.22+PM.jpeg Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595132076605-X850VSMNWKYVAZJPS0WQ/nature+cell+bio.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1660151419818-5THRANMU36JD30K32NKC/frontiers-psychology-logo-220x220.jpg Publications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595130564353-5P3JRP2646YGF0Z1P0VL/cell+report.gif Publications https://www.achenlab.org/lab-news daily 0.75 2025-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/8fb299b5-8e79-4dc5-b840-cdcaff05fa48/Theo2024_cropped.jpg Lab News - May 2024 Congrats to Theo for getting a Summer Research Award from the Office of Undergraduate Research! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/c012c8a8-fef5-4fe4-8546-f27b1b4863dc/Chen+Lab.jpg Lab News - Jun 2020 Lab building resumes in Phase II of Research Resumption Plan at UKy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/0a2f3ae4-2a27-4ab3-9514-65f8afd62894/Showcase+of+Underg+Scholars+2022_Baur.jpg Lab News - Apr 2022 Lauren gives poster presentation (and autographs?) at The 16th Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars, Lexington, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/5528db65-6ca7-4bc6-9af6-0c934e9ec794/SfN2023-small.jpg Lab News - Nov 2023 Dr. Tedeschi and Amy co-chair a minisymposium on mechanisms of CNS injury, at Society for Neuroscience meeting, Washington D.C. Speakers (left to right): Profs. Dario Bonanomi, Andrea Tedeschi, Jeff Huang, Amy Chen, Valentina Cigliola, Jae Lee. Wonderful science and attendance! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1630116243864-3VXQ99TY71BX0J7ERZAW/Unknown-1.jpeg Lab News - Aug 2021 Megan dons white coat to formally join the lab as a graduate student. Let the training begin! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/7844b569-a910-4d6b-b17f-a6a3574e09cb/IMG_8440.jpg Lab News - Nov 2022 Society for Neuroscience meeting 2022: Tuoxin presents his work on astrocyte-immune cell interaction. Got high traffic of audience! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595096600513-MI2SKE0J22LLEWB2Z8PT/Asilomar+astrocyte+discussion.jpg Lab News - Jan 2020 A full house and lively discussion among Drs. Silver and Sofroniew (on stage), and the audience at ISNR on how to design a scar-targeted therapy for spinal cord injury. (photo by M. Stenger) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/b5b5b148-ce79-44b6-9c12-7b8b4339ac9e/UTSW+logo.png Lab News - Aug 2024 Amy gives a talk at UTSW. Where there was a wall, there is now a brain institute, surreal expansion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/8a6cef8d-53f7-493c-9160-7ae376d3acc8/ISNR+2022+speakers+list.jpg Lab News - Jan 2022 Amy gives a talk at the International Symposium on Neural Regeneration; honored to be speaking alongside leaders in the field. See you all in person next year? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/b4e1ca23-d621-4b6e-a60a-5c7adb9adab0/IMG_6615.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Overlooking the Ohio River in Louisville, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/868370b2-7d97-448c-b627-dd01e19bff1e/pic.jpg Lab News - Dec 2024 Finally got in the departmental picture with wonderful colleagues and students! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/bb74c5ea-c7ac-4a9a-b456-5161bdaa73fe/NSCI_Full_Logo.png Lab News - Oct 2023 Amy gives a talk at Neural Stem Cell Institute. Thank you for the opportunity to share my work and interact with inquisitive trainees! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/17982a91-2499-47c7-889d-af8ef639d5c5/Chen_ASN2023_Intro.png Lab News - Mar 2023 Amy chairs a session and gives a talk at the American Society for Neurochemistry meeting in Lexington, KY. Matin and Tuoxin gave poster presentations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/8f9524aa-a4ee-4906-8fe9-ec7a3484d0cb/IMG_8443.jpg Lab News - Nov 2022 Society for Neuroscience meeting 2022: Matin presents her work on astrocyte migration; couldn’t leave poster for water because someone was always there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/0a697966-5ff7-4da9-81ee-e7aa8a29a30d/KSCHIRT+2022_Anna+and+Lauren.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Anna and Lauren present poster at The 27th KSCHIRT Symposium, Louisville, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595096231116-6DZAEUPT17NTY2AMK3H8/Asilomar.jpeg Lab News - Jan 2020 The 18th International Symposium on Neural Regeneration (ISNR) in beautiful Pacific Grove, CA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/21174f0e-c551-4ad7-9f7e-9f3c69cdd8df/20201105_105243%5B4%5D+copy.jpg Lab News - Nov 2020 Lab meeting in the age of social distancing. Will joined as the lab manager; Megan joined as a graduate student; Anna joined as an undergraduate researcher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/ad9c72ef-1c75-4962-9d6b-84238cf80a26/FUN+RUN.jpg Lab News - Jun 2025 National Neurotrauma Society fun run through the heart of Philadelphia. Photo taken atop the 72 steps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/d05fa013-9f57-4596-a9b3-431b321cbdb8/IMG_6634.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Matin presents poster at The 27th KSCHIRT Symposium, Louisville, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/04ead7b6-7f6d-4116-9608-a48783459c81/TAM+logo.png Lab News - Oct 2025 Amy gives a talk at Texas A&M University, Institute for Neuroscience. Thrilled for the expansion of SCI research happening here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/68992b90-d331-4ed7-b251-7eed332301b3/Winter+Brain.jpg Lab News - Jan 2025 Amy gives a talk at Winter Brain, scientific session “Glial Biology in Injury & Repair of the Nervous System” Had a blast with session mates Drs. Mayssa Mokalled, Valeria Cavalli, and Cedric Geoffroy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1bbc3235-13b7-4511-bea2-e7753f861939/IMG_4257.jpg Lab News - Jun 2025 Dr. Dulin & Amy co-chair a session at the American Spinal Injury Association meeting. Honored to be speaking among these stellar SCI researchers - Profs. Satkunendrarajah, McTigue, Chen, Dulin, and Perez. On targeting astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons to improve neural recovery, in preclinical and clinical research. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/28bb9a2d-7920-43cf-9652-07d7315744e3/IMG_6606.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Tuoxin presents poster at The 27th KSCHIRT Symposium, Louisville, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/53aa7417-8cb5-45bf-ab31-d70feb4f2ead/IMG_8511.jpg Lab News - Nov 2022 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting 2022, San Diego, CA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/72133ad3-df39-478b-80f1-51eec090cd3e/OSU+logo.png Lab News - Mar 2025 Amy gives a talk at OSU, Chronic Brain Injury Research Day. Incredible multidisciplinary neurotrauma research presented by the program, and great questions from the audience! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1660153153759-2LZHCK48F0GRQ53W1SK4/mqdefault.jpg Lab News - Jan 2021 A review co-authored with the Gensel Lab is accepted for publication in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. A wonderful collaboration! “The Role of Neuroinflammation in the Response to Spinal Cord Injury” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/311f8874-dc2f-4dcf-8c7d-4b1ce6eddd3b/Tuoxin+talk.jpg Lab News - May 2023 Tuoxin gives a lightening talk at the Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Research Trust Symposium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/01fe6076-6f37-4058-aa7c-a7792bbe038c/KSCHIRT+2024_Matin2.jpg Lab News - May 2024 Congrats to Matin for getting a postdoctoral fellowship from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation! Pictured here giving a talk at the Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Research Trust Symposium in Louisville, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595101381363-FFVGAV0TOMHUXN5UGG26/Amy_bench.jpg Lab News - Jan 03, 2020 In the beginning there is one. Chen Lab opens in the Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) at the University of Kentucky. Can’t wait to see it grow! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/dcbddbb1-d5df-4a56-902a-22ea97681654/UCLA+logo.jpg Lab News - Jan 2023 Amy gives a talk at UC Los Angeles. Thank you, Integrative Center for Neural Repair, for the warm invitation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/372a60ca-3fa5-44a5-8309-b72c12f714cc/IMG_9673.jpeg Lab News - Apr 2024 Ellie finishing her undergraduate research strong by presenting her work at Posters at the Capitol in Frankfort, KY, and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, CA! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/3f4bbb69-8827-48b6-9d65-1160e29aa7d2/UofL+talk+logo.PNG Lab News - Feb 2023 Amy gives a talk at University of Louisville. Thank you, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center & Dept of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, for having me! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595097940217-2BL7OALLJ2YEFBI336FX/winter+on+campus.jpg Lab News - Jan 2020 Winter wonderland on campus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1592202985226-EDNW117K32OQPL8RY63Z/maple+tree.jpg Lab News - Mar 2020 Work from home begins due to COVID-19. This tree needs a trim as much as I need a haircut during social isolation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/7f50ecc6-e6cf-4605-b7df-be2867a45e10/IMG_4037.jpg Lab News - Apr 2025 Theo (right) presents his research at Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/9a71b0ec-17cb-4cd1-a1ff-a8c19568ade5/spring+on+campus.jpg Lab News - Apr 2020 Spring has arrived on campus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/243d6bab-7776-477a-9246-2e7f86968de7/ISNR2023_flyer.jpg Lab News - Apr 2023 Amy and Dr. Tedeschi co-chair a session and gives a talk at the International Symposium for Neural Regeneration meeting in Stevenson, WA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/651f35bd-58bf-42d1-a724-39943ec5495a/NNS-2025-PowerPoint-Template.jpg Lab News - Jun 2025 Dr. Bachstetter & Amy co-chair a session at National Neurotrauma Society Meeting. Standing room only! Thank you to fellow speakers Drs. Chun-Li Zhang, Jacqueline Garcia, and Joseph Ojo for making this happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/5e40c1dd-e07e-44d0-85f1-3858ebdcd284/KSCHIRT+flyer.jpg Lab News - May 2025 The 30th Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Research Trust Symposium was a success! Perhaps the biggest turnout yet - more than 200 attendees - braved the storm to join us. Thank you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1630117267348-Z2IC00ZQS6ZYD5MEAFTV/Ed+celebration+in+jpeg+2.jpg Lab News - Aug 2021 Center news: Dr. Edward D. Hall retires. Thank you Ed for your significant contributions to the center and CNS injury research. We’ll miss you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/60670939-813b-4065-aba0-b1f4633c7ceb/IMG_3794.jpg Lab News - Sep 2020 Nature continues to thrive in COVID. Research Resumption Plan enters Phase III. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1660600450495-2K6VTZ1W2QRRFV01S0BF/Gourabi_Astroyte+Review_Figure+resized.jpg Lab News - Aug 2022 Second publication from the lab this month! Congrats Team! “Capacity of Astrocytes to Promote Axon Growth in the Injured Mammalian CNS” Frontiers in Neuroscience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1653106963972-WHY8YMYJBMUAVVHBSJSU/KSCHIRT+2022_lab.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Proud of my team for presenting four posters at The 27th Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Research Trust Symposium (KSCHIRT), Louisville, KY. My first in person meeting since 2020! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/0cb9c2a5-0e20-4b43-8938-fb76eb1812d5/Ellie+talk.jpg Lab News - May 2023 Ellie gives a lightening talk at the Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Research Trust Symposium. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/24cd9b05-bdaa-4dd3-9520-3c9f0caa43b1/Drexel.png Lab News - Jan 2025 Amy gives a talk at Drexel University. Thank you Neurobiology & Anatomy for your kind invitation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/f4ddb23c-d453-45a1-8fd9-e566739ddfe1/IMG_8516.JPG Lab News - Nov 2022 Society for Neuroscience meeting 2022: Wonderful to see everyone in person again, in beautiful San Diego! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1653107124695-WA67TFWU12B06AQ0ZEVI/Naff+2022_Matin.jpg Lab News - Apr 2022 Matin presents poster at The 47th Naff Symposium, Lexington, KY. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/af518c71-3134-4822-bc43-ca3ef2cf15a1/Chen+Lab+Jeopardy.jpg Lab News - Apr 2023 Anna organized the first Chen Lab Jeopardy! Who won again? It wasn’t Amy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1660600711270-4RUIAN3E153MT83OLV2F/Capture.PNG Lab News - Aug 2022 A collaboration between the Chen Lab and the Goldberg Lab is in press! Congrats Team! “LZK-dependent Stimulation of Astrocyte Reactivity Promotes Corticospinal Axon Sprouting” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/8b3b7b97-c056-4365-9faf-8b47429b197e/Megan%27s+thesis.jpg Lab News - Apr 2023 Congratulations to Megan on successfully defending her Master’s thesis! Only champagne was spilled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/110506c0-f7c4-4205-a61c-f84c51cd49fe/KSCHIRT+2022_student.jpg Lab News - May 2022 Megan’s poster — love the energy of my students! The 27th KSCHIRT Symposium, Louisville, KY. https://www.achenlab.org/join-us daily 0.75 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/dc7cb568-9f08-4b55-a506-5e9bc61ee1c1/lab2023.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Enjoying the last days of summer, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1639691871962-OERMU1SLJQ2H2G3J2LZI/IMG_5801+%282%29.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Holiday Lunch 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1642815957634-GQCYR6CF6SGO1UM0AUAV/IMG_6165.jpeg Join Us - Make it stand out Megan (front, middle) made us beanies!!! Thank you so much Megan! 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1639692400919-LSDDEXZYNYATIDLHJNUY/S1010019_resized.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Beginning of Chen Lab, 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/e7664454-07ab-4b93-860c-946c31098830/2024+Dec_Lab.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Holiday lunch 2024. The Chen Lab Table is official. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/d3ee6f8b-c3dc-4132-84d0-646ff90a7dea/IMG_0872.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Holiday lunch 2023, celebrating another year of greatness! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/ec8713cd-3c5f-4a95-9af7-cca43c182861/2022+Dec_Lab_500kb_horiz.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Holiday Lunch 2022, thank you Team, for another year of progress! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/2058418d-123b-4873-a75d-254bb2e6c783/2024Jan_Lab.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Celebrating the new year together, 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1639691649859-OFSYLLNH3I9OMT1JHTYE/IMG_5313.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Brunch before Keeneland, 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/f7df8661-4a16-4388-a222-06f69e1b942b/2025+Chen+Lab+holiday_1+reduced.jpg Join Us - Make it stand out Holiday lunch 2025. Ready to send off 2025 for a new start! https://www.achenlab.org/our-team daily 0.75 2025-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1655581675872-ZWIT4N469AABBKWPPH2Q/IMG_6858+3.jpg Team - Meifan A. Chen, Ph.D. Principal Investigator meifan.chen@uky.edu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1630112832597-IHCERQ29JIN5HKPXILCM/Xiu+Xu.jpg Team - Xiu Xu, B.S. Research Technician https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1595102627231-L77621BKZMU83S0IL6KY/image-asset.jpeg Team - Enthusiastic You! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1630113080509-NL5T027W42XEZ45LG7VV/Matin.jpg Team - Dr. Matin Hemati, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1358697f-c26d-4722-b07b-aa93ad63137b/Theo_5349.jpg Team - Theo Klippel Undergraduate Researcher (Neuroscience) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/08b89de2-6488-40e0-ba54-e7b6f58a3938/Yongliang.jpeg Team - Dr. Yongliang Liu, Ph.D. Scientist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb21b772db9020f5acc7561/1798639b-5ef7-4339-83d8-a23354717e7d/Anna+Mills_20221207_cropped.jpg Team - Anna Mills, B.S. Research Technician