Mei-Feng Chen
Mei-Feng Chen, PhD
Associate Research Fellow
Bone and Joint Research Center,
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital,
Taoyuan City, Taiwan
mfchen0@gmail.com
mfchen@cgmh.org.com
Overview
Over the past several years, I have led research in osteoarthritis (OA) and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), with a focus on elucidating disease mechanisms, developing novel therapeutic strategies for OA, and improving the diagnostic accuracy of PJI for clinical translation. Over the past five years, I have been awarded five research grants from the National Science and Technology Council (Taiwan). I serve as a Principal Investigator with a strong track record of rigorous scientific judgment and a strategic research vision, enabling the development of coherent and clinically relevant research programs.
Key achievements include:
1. Model Development: Established two OA mouse models, STR/ort and ACLT, and developed a standardized evaluation platform for assessing therapeutic efficacy in spontaneous OA using STR/ort mice.
2. Molecular Investigation: Investigated the roles of EGF-like repeat and discoidin I-like domain-containing protein 3 (EDIL3), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-like protein (PDGFRL), and EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) in the regulation of cartilage integrity.
3. Innovation in MSC Production: Developed a cost-effective platform for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) manufacturing and successfully achieved technology transfer to industry. A Biologics License Application (BLA) has been submitted to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) and is currently under regulatory review.
PJI Research: Advanced the diagnosis and management of PJI by addressing the clinical challenge of differentiating aseptic from septic loosening. Identified novel synovial fluid (SF) biomarkers, including IL-16, IL-18, and CRELD2, demonstrating superior diagnostic accuracy compared with conventional blood tests and their utility in predicting treatment outcomes following debridement.
Intellectual Property: Multiple patents are currently under review.
Selected Publications (Past Five Years)
[1] Chen MF, Hsu YH, Lin YC, Hu CC, Chiu YT, Ueng SW, Chang Y: Timing of intra-articular injection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells affects cartilage integrity and IL-18 expression in spontaneous osteoarthritis: A preclinical study. Int Immunopharmacol 2026, 170:115964.
[2] Chang Y, Jiang PH, Hsu YH, Sia KC, Ueng SW, Chen MF: CXCL5 suppresses osteoclastogenesis and protects against lipoteichoic acid-induced bone loss by modulating PLCgamma2 and c-Fos signalling in gram-positive periprosthetic joint infection. Bone Joint Res 2026, 15:215-26.
[3] Ueng SW, Hsu YH, Lin YC, Hu CC, Chiu YT, Chang Y, Chen MF: Therapeutic blockade of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-like protein attenuates cartilage degeneration and modulates cytokines in a spontaneous osteoarthritis mouse model. Int Immunopharmacol 2025, 164:115294.
[4] Chen MF, Hu CC, Hsu YH, Lin YC, Chen KL, Ueng SWN, Chang Y: The role of EDIL3 in maintaining cartilage extracellular matrix and inhibiting osteoarthritis development. Bone Joint Res 2023, 12:734-46.
[5] Chen MF, Hu CC, Hsu YH, Chiu YT, Chen KL, Ueng SWN, Chang Y: Characterization and Advancement of an Evaluation Method for the Treatment of Spontaneous Osteoarthritis in STR/ort Mice: GRGDS Peptides as a Potential Treatment for Osteoarthritis. Biomedicines 2023, 11.