Welcome to the Chen Ultrasound Laboratory! Our research is supported by diverse funding sources, including the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, multiple NIH institutes (NIBIB, NCI, NIDDK, NINDS, and the BRAIN Initiative), as well as the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), industry, and private foundations. Our mission is to advance the field of Neurosonics by integrating breakthroughs in neuroscience and ultrasonics to develop noninvasive ultrasound technologies that deepen our understanding of brain function and transform the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.
Our team is seeking graduate students, postdocs, technicians, and staff scientists. For further details on this opportunity, please email Dr. Chen at hongchen@wustl.edu.
Recent news
Dr. Hong Chen named finalist for 2026 Sony Women in Technology Award
Dr. Hong Chen has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature. This prestigious Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature honors early- to mid-career researchers whose innovative work stands to drive transformative advances in technology and make a meaningful impact on society. As one of only eight […]
Dr. Jinyun Yuan Presents at the Siteman Cancer Research Symposium
On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Siteman Cancer Center hosted its 6th Annual Siteman Cancer Research Symposium at WashU Medicine. The symposium brought together researchers across multiple disciplines, showcasing cancer-related research from basic science, pre-clinical, clinical, and public health studies. At this year’s symposium, the lab’s esteemed senior scientist, Dr. Jinyun Yuan, presented her work […]
Chinwe Chukwu Presents at IEEE IUS 2025
The 2025 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IEEE IUS 2025) was held from September 15–18, 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands. At the conference, Chinwe Chukwu presented an oral talk titled “Fully Noninvasive and Flexible Sonogenetic Neuromodulation in the Rodent Brain.” Her work focuses on evaluating the use of capsid-engineered viruses to noninvasively deliver acoustic-sensitive actuators to the […]
Sarah Zhang Places Second in BME PhD 3MT Contest
The WashU McKelvey School of Engineering’s BME PhD retreat, held on September 12, 2025, featured a spirited Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Sarah Zhang placed second with her talk, “Focused Ultrasound (FUS) Unlocking the Brain’s Immune Connections.” The 3MT competition challenges PhD students to explain their research in a clear and concise way, having only […]
Chen Lab 2025 Retreat is One for the Books
From September 11–13, 2025, the Chen Ultrasound Lab gathered at Osage Beach for our annual team-building retreat. Lodged in a beautiful lakeside home overlooking the Ozarks, the team spent quality time connecting over shared passions for food, nature, and science. This year’s retreat theme was “Grant Writing – From Idea to Specific Aims.” During the […]
Dingyue Zhang receives 2025 SfN Trainee Professional Development Award
Congratulations to Dingyue Zhang, who has been named a recipient of the 2025 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). Dingyue’s potential as an emerging leader in neuroscience research, as demonstrated by the strength of her application, has earned her this award. Through the TPDA, Dingyue will gain valuable opportunities for […]
Kevin Xu receives 2025 SfN Trainee Professional Development Award
We’re pleased to share that Kevin Xu has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). This competitive award recognizes the merit and strength of Kevin’s application and supports his continued growth as a neuroscience researcher. The TPDA provides promising trainees with professional development […]
Synthetic torpor: A breakthrough that could redefine medicine
While some animals naturally enter torpor—a state of reduced body temperature and metabolic rate—replicating this phenomenon safely and noninvasively in nonhibernating species has remained elusive… until now. Hong Chen and her team have developed the first noninvasive method to induce a reversible, torpor-like state by using focused ultrasound to stimulate the central nervous system. By […]
Dr. Hong Chen Named Professor as Chen Lab Celebrates 10 Years
Today, July 1st, 2025, marks Dr. Hong Chen’s promotion to Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. This milestone coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Chen Ultrasound Lab. The lab celebrates Dr. Chen’s remarkable leadership, vision, and dedication, which have shaped a decade of extraordinary innovation and impact. We look forward to seeing what […]
Chen Lab on the cover of WashU’s Momentum magazine
WashU’s McKelvey School of Engineering recently released the Spring 2025 issue of their Momentum magazine, featuring the Chen Ultrasound Lab as the cover story. The article, titled “Wonderland,” highlights the lab’s pioneering work to develop noninvasive approaches for studying and treating the brain using focused ultrasound. In the feature, Dr. Hong Chen shared, “We can […]