Professor Chen Jianfu,　Tenured Associate Professor at University of Southern California (USC), Visited CQMU-SH

On 29 March, 2024, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University invited Professor Chen Jianfu, a tenured Associate Professor at University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, USA, to give an academic lecture titled Mechanistic and Therapeutic Study of Craniosynostosis and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). Professor Luo Jun, vice dean of CQMU-SH, as well as professional and technical staff, and graduate students attended the lecture. Professor Yang Sheng, vice dean of CQMU-SH hosted the lecture.

Professor Chen Jianfu gave a brief overview on how his team uses genetically modified mice and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived cells/brain organoids to model neurological diseases, such as developmental brain disorders (autism, intellectual disability, microcephaly) as well as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) neurodegenerative diseases. Then, he mainly talked about skull-brain crosstalk via meningeal lymphatics focusing on Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, a congenital disorder with brain dysfunctions. His team identified meningeal lymphatics as a pathological factor and a therapeutic target for neurocognitive defects in craniosynostosis, providing novel insights into the skull-brain communications. At last, he finished the talk by the single cell mapping of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis and pain.