Research Toxicologist — Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology

Tao Chen, Ph.D., DABT
(870) 543-7121
[email protected]  

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About  |  Publications  |  Lab Members

Background

Dr. Chen received a Ph.D. in toxicology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, then worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Duke University. Dr. Chen joined FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as an FDA staff fellow in the Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology from 2000 to 2002 and became a research toxicologist in 2003. Dr. Chen has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) since 1999.

Research Interests

Dr. Chen led a team to conduct research for development and validation of genotoxic methods and evolution of genotoxicity of FDA-related products. Dr. Chen’s early research mainly addressed the validation of rodent transgenic mutation systems and development of different methods for molecular characterization of chemical-induced mutations. He has investigated mutagenicity and fundamental mechanisms of mutagens associated with FDA regulations such as tamoxifen, retinyl palmitate, aristolochic acid, acrylamide, and drug impurities using different genotoxicity endpoints. Recent research has focused on the evaluation of genotoxicity assays for assessing nanomaterials, the development of new microRNA assays to supplement current genotoxicity battery, and the assessment of chemical-induced somatic and germline mutations using next generation sequencing methods.

Professional Societies/National and International Groups

Environmental Mutagen Society
Member
1995 – Present

Society of Toxicology
Member
1997 – Present

International Life Sciences Institute – Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (ILSI/HESI) Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee
Member
2012 – Present

ILSI/HESI Genomics Committee
Member
2005 – Present 

Sequencing Quality Control Consortium
Member
2013 – Present

Select Publications

Mutagenicity of Silver Nanoparticles Evaluated Using Whole Genome Sequencing in Mouse Lymphoma Cells.
Pan B., Kaldhone P., Alund A., Du H., Guo X., Yan J., Chen Y., Zhou T., Robison T.W., and Chen T.
Nanotoxicology. 2021, 15(3): 418-432.

Expression of miR-34a is a Sensitive Biomarker for Exposure to Genotoxic Agents in Human Lymphoblastoid TK6 Cells.
Chen T., Yan J., and Li Z.
Mutation Research. 2020, 856–857, 503232.

Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles Evaluated Using In Vitro Assays.
Demir E., Qin T., Li Y., Zhang Y., Guo X., Ingle T., Yan J., Orza A.I., Biris A.S., Ghorai S., Zhou T., and Chen T.
Mutation Research. 2020, 850-851:503149.

Genotoxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials: Recommendations on Best Practices, Assays and Methods.
Elespuru R., Pfuhler S., Aardema M., Chen T., Doak S.H., Doherty A., Farabaugh C.S., Kenny J., Manjanatha M., Mahadevan B., Moore M.M., Ouedraogo G., Stankowski L.F. Jr., and Tanir J.Y.
Toxicological Sciences. 2018, 164(2):391-416.
 
Differential Genotoxicity Mechanisms of Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Ions.
Li Y., Qin T., Ingle T., Yan J., He W., Yin J.J., and Chen T. 
Arch Toxicol. 2016, 10 (9): 1373–1384.

Size- and Coating-Dependent Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles Evaluated Using In Vitro Standard Assays.
Guo X., Li Y., Yan J., Ingle T., Jones M.Y., Mei N., Boudreau M.D., Cunningham C.K., Abbas M., Paredes A.M., Zhou T., Moore M.M., Howard P.C., and Chen T. 
Nanotoxicology. 2016, 10 (9): 1373-84. 

Decrease of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in Rat Liver with Subchronic Exposure to Genotoxic Carcinogens Riddelliine and Aristolochic Acid.
Lian C.G., Xu S., Guo W., Yan J., Frank M.Y., Liu R., Liu C., Chen Y., Murphy G.F., and Chen T. 
Mol Carcinog. 2015, 54 (11): 1503-7.

Integrated microRNA, mRNA, and Protein Expression Profiling Reveals microRNA Regulatory Networks in Rat Kidney Treated with a Carcinogenic Dose of Aristolochic Acid.
Li Z., Qin T., Wang K., Hackenberg M., Yan J., Gao Y., Yu L.R.. Shi L., Su Z., and Chen T. 
BMC Genomics. 2015, 16 365.
 
A Comprehensive Assessment of RNA-seq Accuracy, Reproducibility and Information Content by the Sequencing Quality Control Consortium.
SEQC/MAQC-III Consortium. 
Nat Biotechnol. 2014, 32 (9): 903-14.

Genotoxicity of 2-bromo-3'-chloropropiophenone.
Meng F., Yan J., Li Y., Fu P.P., Fossom L.H., Sood R.K., Mans D.J., Chu P.I., Moore M.M., and Chen T. 
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2013, 270 (2): 158-63.

Lab Members

Contact information for all lab members:
(870) 543-7121
[email protected]

Jian Yan, M.S.
Biologist