Chen, formerly a professor and director of graduate education at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering, officially joined Nanjing University's School of Biomedical Engineering on June 1.

At a welcome ceremony on June 11, Nanjing University assistant president Jiang Tian praised Chen's work in fields including cellular biomechanics and organ-on-a-chip technology.

"He chose to join Nanjing University during his peak academic years and this heartfelt dedication and high level of trust are truly moving," the South China Morning Post quoted Jiang as saying.

Chen said he completed his work at NYU and returned to China in May.

"My decision to come back was primarily based on personal career development and family reasons, and I did not take into account the political changes in the U.S.," he said at the induction ceremony.

He said he plans to continue pursuing frontier research while focusing on talent development and strengthening cooperation among academia, industry and research institutions.

Chinese biomedical scientist Chen Weiqiang. Photo courtesy of New York University's Tandon School of Engineering

Chen graduated from Nanjing University's School of Physics in 2005 before earning a master's degree in electrical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2008.

He later moved to the U.S., obtaining a master's degree from Purdue University in 2009 and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 2014.

After joining NYU as an assistant professor in 2014, he gained recognition for developing a "cancer-on-a-chip" platform, a technology that recreates aspects of the human body's tissue environment on a miniature device to help researchers study cancer and test potential treatments. The platform can replicate a patient's specific tissue environment using the patient's own cells, allowing scientists to evaluate therapies before they are used in clinical settings.

Chen was promoted to associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering in 2020. Three years later, he was elected a fellow of the American Heart Association in recognition of his contributions to biomedical science.

According to Nanjing University, he has published nearly 70 peer-reviewed papers and led more than 20 major international research projects with total funding exceeding 63 million yuan (US$13.2 million). He also helped establish what the university described as the world's first data research center focused on alternatives to animal testing at NYU. In March 2024, Chen was promoted to full tenured professor.

Nanjing University's School of Biomedical Engineering was established in December 2025 as part of the university's effort to build a world-class engineering program focused on life sciences, medical technology and clinical applications.

In the latest Nature Index 2026 rankings, Nanjing University ranked ninth globally, while NYU ranked 72nd.