Biography
I-Ming Chen received and B.S and DVM from National Taiwan University (1978). Master of Science (M.S.) in Veterinary Microbiology/Immunology from Iowa State University (1983).
Personal Statement
The focus of my research is on using the comprehensive genomic technologies to discover new genetic abnormalities in acute leukemia that may serve as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. I am a co-PI member in a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists who are on several different NCI and LLS Grants and the research focus of those grant is on translating molecular discoveries and prognostic genes and signatures to the clinical setting where they are used to improve diagnosis, risk classification and therapeutic targeting.
I have been involved in human cancer tissue banking over 25 years, have extensive experience with the development of various cryo-banking technologies and management of large national and institutional tissue banks, repositories and national reference laboratories for the conduct of correlative science studies in national clinical trials. I managed Leukemia Tissue Repositories and Reference Laboratories for the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) previously housed in the UNM Cancer Research Facility, also was involved in the NCI-sponsored Cooperative Group Banking Committee seeking to standardize the best practice for all NCI-supported banking activities. I am the Scientific Director for the Human Tissue Repository & Tissue Analysis Shared Resource since 2006, help train personnel and establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the technical staff, and consults for the Resource regarding issues related to cryopreservation and DNA/RNA quality assessment. I also have extensive expertise in DNA and RNA analysis, standard molecular diagnostic and PCR assays, gene expression profiling, assessment of predictive gene expression signatures on low-density arrays, and next generation sequencing on the Ion Proton and Ion Torrent platforms. I also maintain the CLIA certification of the Willman Laboratories and the UNM Cancer Center’s Center for Molecular and Genomic Diagnostics.
Achievements & Awards
Co-inventor of patent awarded on 10-29-2013: US 8,568,974 B2
“Identification of Novel Subgroups of High-Risk Pediatric Precursor B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Outcome Correlations and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods Related To Same,” (STC ref. # 2008-041-03).
Gender
Female
Languages
- English
- Chinese
Research and Scholarship
1. Discovery of Philadelphia-Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): From Sequencing to Targeted Therapeutics.
2. Discovery of Germline Genetic Variants that Predict ALL Incidence and Outcome; Association of Ph-Like ALL with Hispanic/American Indian Genetic Ancestry.
3. Development of Functional Assays to Assess and Therapeutic Targeting to Overcome Multidrug Resistance (MDR) in Leukemic Cells.