Xinyuan Chen, Ph.D.

Xinyuan Chen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Office: 495D Lab: 480
  • Phone: 401.874.5033
  • Email: xchen14@uri.edu
  • Office Location: Avedisian Hall, 7 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881
Research Website

 

Research

My research focuses on developing novel vaccine adjuvants and delivery platforms to improve drug and vaccine efficacy. We emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to address pressing challenges in drug/vaccine delivery and vaccine adjuvants.  

Education

Instructor, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 2012-2015
Post-doc, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 2008-2011
Post-doc, Burke Medical Research Institute, NY, 2007
Ph.D., Nanjing University, 2006
B.S., Nanjing University, 2001

Selected Publications

  1. Li Y, Nakkala JR, Akter L, Kang X, Song Y, VanLuinen E., Chen X. CpG 1018 augments mRNA vaccine-induced anti-tumor immunity by potentiating CD8+ T cell responses. Mol Ther Oncol. 2026 May 9;34(2):201230. doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201230. eCollection 2026 Jun 18. PMID: 42256206 PMCID: PMC13233743 
  2. Kang X, Li Z, Nakkala JR, Li Y, Akter L, Zhao Y, Chen X#. Dual roles of in situ generated HSP70 in antigen delivery and immunoregulation. Front Immunol. 2025 Oct 2:16:1638948. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1638948. eCollection 2025.  PMID: 41112303 PMCID: PMC12528137 
  3. Nakkala JR, Li Y, Akter L, Kang X, Chen X#. Differential Regulation of DC Function, Adaptive Immunity, and MyD88 Dependence by Two Squalene Emulsion-Based Vaccine Adjuvants. Vaccines (Basel). 2024 May 13;12(5):531. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12050531. PMID: 38793782 PMCID: PMC11125884 
  4. Chen X. Emerging adjuvants for intradermal vaccination. Int J Pharm. 2022 Dec 28;632:122559. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122559.  
  5. Zhao Y, Voyer J, Li Y, Kang X, Chen X. Laser microporation facilitates topical drug delivery: a comprehensive review about preclinical development and clinical application. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2023 Jan;20(1):31-54. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2152002. Epub 2022 Dec 15. 
  6. Li Y, Li Z, Chen X. Comparative tissue proteomics reveals unique action mechanisms of vaccine adjuvants. iScience. 2022 Dec 14;26(1):105800. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105800. eCollection 2023 Jan 20. 
  7. Zhao Y, Li Z, Voyer J, Li Y, Chen X. Flagellin/Virus-like Particle Hybrid Platform with High Immunogenicity, Safety, and Versatility for Vaccine Development. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Apr 25;. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c01028. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35467839. 
  8. Li Z, Cao Y, Li Y, Zhao Y, Chen X. Vaccine delivery alerts innate immune systems for more immunogenic vaccination. JCI Insight. 2021 Mar 9:144627. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.144627.  
  9. Zhao Y, Li Z, Zhu X, Cao Y, Chen X. Improving immunogenicity and safety of flagellin as vaccine carrier by high-density display on virus-like particle surface. Biomaterials. 2020 Aug;249:120030. 
  10. Kakar P, Li Z, Li Y, Cao Y, Chen X. Laser facilitates week-long sustained transdermal drug delivery at high doses. J Control Release. 2020 Mar 10;319:428-437. 
  11. Cao Y, Zhu XY, Hossen MN, Kakar P, Zhao YW, Chen X. Augmentation of vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity by a physical radiofrequency adjuvant. Nature Communications. 2018, 9:3695.