Benjamin Chen, Presidential Fellow 2006-2008
Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program
Medical Scientist Training Program
Lamb Laboratory

> How would you describe your research in 1 or 2 sentences?

Our lab is interested in enveloped virus assembly and budding.  Specifically, I am interested in how influenza viruses assemble together at the cell membrane and then escape from the host cell.
 
> Can you explain that a little further?

The process of enveloped virus assembly and budding is common to a number of viruses, for example, HIV, Ebola, measles virus, so I am trying to understand not only how this process works for influenza virus, but also how it might apply to other enveloped viruses.  For many enveloped viruses to be released from the cell, they must bud or pinch off of the cell membrane.  The topography of virus budding is fairly unique, and currently there is only one pathway in the cell that helps control a similar normal cellular budding process.  Some viruses have been shown to hijack this pathway, and so it appears likely that influenza virus uses a similar mechanism.  I am trying to determine what virus and host factors are important during the assembly and budding process.  In theory, understanding these processes may identify new targets to inhibit virus replication and aid in developing drugs to stop the spread of infection--a serious concern given the recent alarm raised by the potential for another global influenza pandemic.
 
> How did you decide to enter your field, and what brought you to your topic?

I have been involved in bench research since high school, starting out at New England Biolabs, a small company that develops enzymes and kits for molecular biology.  This was where I learned many of the fundamentals of molecular biology research.  When I went to Brown University, I quickly identified a subject area that interested me--virology--and sought out the professor and asked to join his lab.  There, I worked on JC virus, a ubiquitous human virus that is typically benign, but in immunocompromised individuals causes a severe neurologic disease.  The focus of the work was also on the structure and assembly of JC virus, which has its own unique features.
 
> What are your interests outside of research?

I decided to enter a combined MD-PhD program because I was excited by basic research, but also wanted to understand the biological relevance and application of research and its impact on real people.  I joined Dr. Lamb's lab because I wanted a strong foundation in biochemistry and wanted to understand very fundamental processes at the molecular level.  The fact that we use influenza virus as a model system was an added bonus given my fascination with viruses.  Viruses have existed far longer than humans and it's pretty clear that they have figured out how to make efficient use of their hosts.

> What are your future plans?

After I finish my PhD, I will return to med school for two years of clinical rotations.  Currently, I am interested in diagnostic medicine, in particular pathology and radiology.  Both disciplines rely on careful examination of normal and disease states and determination of the disease process.  These specialties also lend themselves to basic research.  I hope to be able to establish a basic research program while maintaining clinical exposure.  There are so many questions about disease--whether in virology, or other infectious disease, or something completely different--that I see no shortage of opportunities ahead.