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  1. Science & Research (NCTR)

Tao Chen Ph.D.

Research Toxicologist — Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology

Tao Chen
Tao Chen, Ph.D., DABT
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov  

Back to NCTR Principal Investigator page

About  |  Publications  |  Lab Members

Background

Dr. Tao Chen received a Ph.D. in toxicology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences followed by an appointment 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 in 2000 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 research team focused on developing and validating new methods to evaluate the genotoxicity of FDA-related products. Dr. Chen’s early research mainly addressed the validation of rodent transgenic mutation systems and the development of different methods for the molecular characterization of chemical-induced mutations. He has used different genotoxicity endpoints to investigate the mutagenicity and fundamental mutagenicity mechanisms of a number of substances of FDA regulatory interest such as tamoxifen, retinyl palmitate, aristolochic acids, acrylamide, and drug impurities. Recently, he has evaluated the appropriateness of different standard assays for assessing the genotoxicity of nanomaterials, developed new microRNA assays to supplement the current genotoxicity battery, and assessed chemical-induced somatic and germline mutations using next generation sequencing methods and C. elegans models.

Professional Societies/National and International Groups

Environmental Mutagen Society
Member
1995 – Present

Society of Toxicology
Member
1995 – 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

Application of Duplex Sequencing to Evaluate Mutagenicity of Aristolochic Acid and Methapyrilene in Fisher 344 Rats. 
Sahib S., Yan J., and Chen T. 
Food Chem Toxicol. 2024, 185, 114512.

Evaluation of Mutagenic Susceptibility of Different Stages in Germ Cell Development of Caenorhabditis elegans Using Whole Genome Sequencing. 
Du H., Pan B., Alund A. W., Yan J., Chen Y., Robison T. W., and Chen T.
Arch Toxicol. 2023, 97(8), 2261-2272.

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.

Whole Genome Sequencing Analysis of Small and Large Colony Mutants from the Mouse Lymphoma Assay.
Guo X., Pan B., Seo J.E., Chen Y., Yan J., Mei N., and Chen T.
Arch Toxicol. 2018, 92(12), 3585-3595.

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.

Factors Affecting the In Vitro Micronucleus Assay for Evaluation of Nanomaterials. 
Li Y., Doak S.H., Yan J., Chen D.H., Zhou M., Mittelstaedt R.A., Chen Y., Li C., and Chen T.
Mutagenesis. 2017, 32(1), 151-159.

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.

Tissue-Specific microRNA Responses in Rats Treated with Mutagenic and Carcinogenic Doses of Aristolochic Acid. 
Meng F., Li Z., Yan J., Manjanatha M., Shelton S., Yarborough S., and Chen T. 
Mutagenesis. 2014, 29(5), 357-65.

Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment of Silver Nanoparticles in Mouse.
Li Y., Bhalli J.A., Ding W., Yan J., Pearce M.G., Sadiq R., Cunningham C.K., Jones M.Y., Monroe W.A., Howard P.C., Zhou T., and Chen, T.
Nanotoxicology. 2014, 8, 36-45.

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.

Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Mutations and Oxidative Stress in Mouse Lymphoma Cells. 
Mei N., Zhang Y., Chen Y., Guo X., Ding W., Ali S.F., Biris A.S., Rice P., Moore M.M., and Chen, T.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2012, 53(6), 409-19.

4-Aminobiphenyl Induces Liver DNA Adducts in Both Neonatal and Adult Mice but Induces Liver Mutations Only in Neonatal Mice. 
Chen T., Mittelstaedt R.A., Beland F.A., Heflich R.H., Moore M.M., and Parsons B.L. 
Int J Cancer. 2005, 117(2), 182-187.

Mutations Induced by Alpha-Hydroxytamoxifen in the lacI and cII Genes of Big Blue Transgenic Rats.
Chen T., da Costa G.G., Marques M.M., Shelton S.D., Beland F.A., and Manjanatha M.G.
Carcinogenesis. 2002, 23(10), 1751-1757.

Hprt Mutant Frequency and Molecular Analysis of Hprt Mutations in Fischer 344 Rats Treated with Thiotepa. 
Chen T., Aidoo A., Mittelstaedt R.A., Casciano D.A., and Heflich R.H. 
Carcinogenesis. 1999, 20(2), 269-277.
 

Lab Members

Contact information for all lab members:
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov

Li Xia, Ph.D.
ORISE Postdoctoral Follow

Jian Yan, M.S.
Biologist

Contact Information
Tao Chen
(870) 543-7121
Expertise
Expertise
Approach
Domain
Technology & Discipline
Toxicology
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