Chinfei Chen, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
Professor of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Associate Director, Harvard Program in Neuroscience
Chinfei Chen, MD, PhD – Faculty Profile
Titles
Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
Professor of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Associate Director, Harvard Program in Neuroscience
The Aim
The Chen Lab investigates how experiences and brain state shape brain wiring and plasticity by studying how synapses and circuits develop and adapt over time.
The Impact
The Chen Lab investigates how our experiences and brain state shape the brain’s wiring, focusing on how synapses and circuits in key areas like the thalamus develop and adapt over time. By exploring how connections between brain cells are refined and change in response to neuromodulatory activity—both during early development and in adults—the lab’s research provides insight into how sensory and emotional information is processed. Their work aims to unravel the basic mechanisms of brain plasticity and could lead to new therapies for conditions such as autism, epilepsy, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
A Closer Look
Harvard Medical School – July 2018
Chinfei Chen studies how early sights and sounds help wire a baby’s brain. Her work shows how experience fine‑tunes the connections between the eyes and the brain, revealing molecules that help turn fuzzy early signals into clear, reliable vision.
Article: “Sensory Refinement – A key protein helps the brain remodel itself in response to sensory experiences”
Boston Children’s Hospital – April 2025
This article explains new research showing that the thalamus, a deep “relay hub” in the brain, can rewire its own connections and may be a powerful new target for treating neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
Article: “The thalamus: A potential therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders”
Contact & Lab Link
Email: chinfei.chen@childrens.harvard.edu
Lab website: https://www.chinfeichenlab.com/
Titles
Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
Professor of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Associate Director, Harvard Program in Neuroscience
The Aim
The Chen Lab investigates how experiences and brain state shape brain wiring and plasticity by studying how synapses and circuits develop and adapt over time.
The Impact
The Chen Lab investigates how our experiences and brain state shape the brain’s wiring, focusing on how synapses and circuits in key areas like the thalamus develop and adapt over time. By exploring how connections between brain cells are refined and change in response to neuromodulatory activity—both during early development and in adults—the lab’s research provides insight into how sensory and emotional information is processed. Their work aims to unravel the basic mechanisms of brain plasticity and could lead to new therapies for conditions such as autism, epilepsy, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
A Closer Look
Harvard Medical School – July 2018
Chinfei Chen studies how early sights and sounds help wire a baby’s brain. Her work shows how experience fine‑tunes the connections between the eyes and the brain, revealing molecules that help turn fuzzy early signals into clear, reliable vision.
Article: “Sensory Refinement – A key protein helps the brain remodel itself in response to sensory experiences”
Boston Children’s Hospital – April 2025
This article explains new research showing that the thalamus, a deep “relay hub” in the brain, can rewire its own connections and may be a powerful new target for treating neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
Article: “The thalamus: A potential therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders”
Contact & Lab Link
Email: chinfei.chen@childrens.harvard.edu
Lab website: https://www.chinfeichenlab.com/
Publications View
Visual acuity development and plasticity in the absence of sensory experience.
Authors: Authors: Kang E, Durand S, LeBlanc JJ, Hensch TK, Chen C, Fagiolini M.
J Neurosci
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J Neurosci
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Metabotropic glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters shape transmission at the developing retinogeniculate synapse.
Authors: Authors: Hauser JL, Edson EB, Hooks BM, Chen C.
J Neurophysiol
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J Neurophysiol
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Experience-dependent retinogeniculate synapse remodeling is abnormal in MeCP2-deficient mice.
Wiring and rewiring of the retinogeniculate synapse.
Vision triggers an experience-dependent sensitive period at the retinogeniculate synapse.
Different roles for AMPA and NMDA receptors in transmission at the immature retinogeniculate synapse.
Critical periods in the visual system: changing views for a model of experience-dependent plasticity.
An RNAi-based approach identifies molecules required for glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse development.
Authors: Authors: Paradis S, Harrar DB, Lin Y, Koon AC, Hauser JL, Griffith EC, Zhu L, Brass LF, Chen C, Greenberg ME.
Neuron
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Neuron
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Distinct roles for spontaneous and visual activity in remodeling of the retinogeniculate synapse.
Activity-dependent regulation of MEF2 transcription factors suppresses excitatory synapse number.
Authors: Authors: Flavell SW, Cowan CW, Kim TK, Greer PL, Lin Y, Paradis S, Griffith EC, Hu LS, Chen C, Greenberg ME.
Science
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Science
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