Center for Hormone Advanced Science and Education (CHASE)

Welcome to the Center for Hormone Advanced Science and Education (CHASE) website! The CHASE at the Roskamp Institute, headed by Dr. Rena Li, is a multidisciplinary research center devoted to the study of hormones and their use in the treatment of neurological disorders, mental illnesses, heart disease and bone loss. The CHASE promotes basic, translational, and clinical research and education on endocrinology in neuroscience, particularly on the roles of sex hormones in healthy and aging brain function. The scope of research activities at the CHASE is broad and translational, ranging from analysis of genetic influences to potential therapeutic compounds and clinical treatments of patients with hormone related diseases. The current projects in CHASE are funded by National Institute of health (NIH), the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), the Alzheimer’s Association and other resources. Our missions are to develop alternative medicines to help affected individuals with better and safer natural products.

CHASE also promotes education on the role of hormones in healthy aging by relaying the advances in molecular and biochemical basic research to the public. Enhancing awareness of the importance of hormone balance throughout the life span is a key function of CHASE. The other equally important object of CHASE is the training of postdoctoral and medical fellows, graduate and medical students in neuroendocrinology with frontier knowledge and cutting-edge research technologies. CHASE welcomes trainees from diversified disciplines including molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, neurology, psychiatry, obstetrics & gynecology, orthopedics, and herbal medicines etc.

For open positions at this center please visit our careers website.

Recent Publications:
Cui J, Shen Y, Li R*. (2013) Estrogen synthesis and signaling pathways during ageing: from periphery to brain. Trends in Molecular Medicine. Jan 21 [Epub and ahead of print]. (IF= 10.5)

Li R*, Cui J, Jothishankar B, Shen J, He P, Shen Y. (2012) Early reproductive experiences in females make differences in cognitive function later in life. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. In press (IF=3.7)

Li R*, He P, Cui J, Staufenbiel M, Harada N, Shen Y. (2012) Brain endogenous estrogen levels determine responses to estrogen replacement therapy via regulation of BACE1 and NEP in female Alzheimer's transgenic mice. Molecular Neurobiology November 20 (Epub ahead of print) (IF= 5.7)

Jiang H, He P, Adler CH, Shill H, Beach TG, Li R, Shen Y*.(2012) Bid signal pathway components are identified in the temporal cortex with Parkinson disease. Neurology. 23;79(17):1767-73. (IF=8.0)

Long J, He P, Shen Y, Li R*. (2012) New evidence of mitochondria dysfunction in the female Alzheimer’s brain: deficiency of estrogen receptor-beta. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 30(3):545-58. (IF=3.7)

Jiang H, Hampel H, Prvulovic D, Wallin A, Blennow K, Li R, Shen Y*. (2011) Elevated CSF level of TACE activity and soluble TNF receptors in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 6(1): 69 (IF=4.2)

Li R*, Staufenbiel M, Shen Y. (2011) Effect of different estrogens on BACE in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 7:S464-S465 (IF 6.3)

McAllister C, Long J, Bowers A, Walker A, Cao P, Honda S-I, Harada N, Staufenbiel M , Shen Y, Li R*. (2010) Genetic targeting aromatase in male amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice down-regulates beta-secretase (BACE1) and prevents Alzheimer-like pathology and cognitive impairment. Journal of Neuroscience, 30: 7326-7334 (IF=7.1)

Cheng X., Yang L., He P, Li R., Shen Y*. (2010) Differential activation of TNF receptors distinguishes Alzheimer from normal brains. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 19(2):621-30. (IF=3.7)

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"We have assembled a fantastic team of scientists and clinicians here at the Roskamp Institute." – Dr. Fiona Crawford