Dr.Chen’s translational research in kidney immunology focuses on how to identify, understand and eventually target autoantigen specific B cells in diseases such as ANCA vasculitis. These diseases are amenable to B cell depleting therapies but the treatments consist of broad immunosuppression so it is important to separate out and target the autoantigen specific B cells. She is also interested in the function of these cells in patients who are able to maintain long term remission off therapy (LTROT). In addition to translational research, Dr.Chen is an investigator for clinical trials at UNC Kidney Center and is part of other large research consortiums aimed to help answer important clinical questions related to glomerular diseases.

Outside of the research, Dr.Chen’s clinical work is focused on caring for all patients with kidney disease while consulting in the hospital. In the clinic, she sees patients with autoimmune or glomerular kidney diseases such as ANCA vasculitis, Membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, Minimal Change Disease, FSGS and Lupus Nephritis. These diseases require understanding of the complex underlying immunology, uptodate available therapies and multidisciplinary care. Dr.Chen has trained specifically in glomerular disease clinical care and is proud to be part of a multidisciplinary vasculitis clinic at UNC.