Dr. Che-Hong Chen

• Senior Research Scientist, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, CA, USA
• CEO, International ALDH2 STAR Research Consortium

Dr. Che-Hong Chen, a molecular biologist and geneticist, has been working as a senior research scientist at Stanford University, School of Medicine, for the past 26 years. His research focuses on aldehyde toxicity and the function of ALDH multi-gene family in human. Che-Hong’s research is highlighted by the discovery of a class of novel enzyme modulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Some of these small molecule modulators are potent enzyme activators for the variant East Asian-specific dysfunctional ALDH2 which affects approximately 560 million people, or 8% of the world population. The East Asian-specific ALDH2 variant is well-known as the cause of the Asian Alcohol Flushing Syndrome (or Alcohol Intolerance). Using the ALDH2 deficient mouse model and exploring human ALDH variations, Che-Hong is currently identifying molecular mechanisms underlying the pathology of diseases associated with aldehyde toxicity and ALDH mutations in human population. Together with Prof. Daria Mochly-Rosen, Che-Hong established the Stanford-Taiwan ALDH2 Deficiency Research (STAR) consortium (now International ALDH2 STAR Research Consortium) in 2015. The ALDH2 STAR consortium is devoted to the promotion of multidisciplinary collaboration of basic and clinical research on ALDH2 deficiency. In 2017, Che-Hong also founded a non-profit organization of Taiwan Alcohol Intolerance Education Society (TAIES) in Taiwan. Combining the ALDH2 STAR research consortium and TAIES, Che-Hong has been actively promoting public health education and awareness of alcohol intolerance and its related health risks in Taiwan and East Asia.