Horng H. Chen, M.D.

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SUMMARY

Horng H. Chen, M.D., is a board-certified adult heart failure cardiologist and a physician-scientist with 20 years' experience in translational research, bridging the laboratory to the bedside. Dr. Chen is currently the principal investigator on three National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) research grants and a co-investigator on the NHLBI Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. His research focuses on cardiorenal dysfunction and heart failure together with novel natriuretic peptide therapeutics in the syndrome of heart failure.

Focus areas

• Cardiorenal dysfunction. Dr. Chen has advanced the field of cardiorenal therapeutics in the area of heart failure. As co-director of Mayo Clinic's Cardiorenal Research Laboratory, he has established and developed an independent research program in human cardiorenal physiology in heart failure. Furthermore, Dr. Chen has filed 10 patents for the therapeutics of cardiorenal syndrome.
• Novel natriuretic peptide therapeutics. Dr. Chen's work has changed the thinking of those in the fields of congestive heart failure and cardiorenal biology and therapeutics. He has advanced the concept of cardiac natriuretic peptides as cardiorenal protective properties via the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which can be developed into novel chronic therapeutics. He is pursuing this development with the subcutaneous administration of native and novel designer natriuretic peptides. Dr. Chen is also advancing nanotechnologies, such as nanoparticles, with embedded natriuretic peptides to evaluate their therapeutic potential.
• New therapies for heart failure. All of Dr. Chen's research grants support highly translational research in people with and without congestive heart failure. Indeed, Dr. Chen's work contributes to Mayo's translational focus, with his studies being pursued in patients at Mayo's Center for Clinical and Translational Studies Activities (CTSA). He works to bridge from the laboratory to the patient with cardiorenal dysfunction, a field he has pioneered.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Chen's research program has significant impact on clinical practice. The results of the Renal Optimization Strategies Evaluation in Acute Heart Failure (ROSE-AHF) study demonstrated that the routine use of low-dose dopamine or nesiritide in patients with acute heart failure and renal dysfunction was not useful to promote decongestion and preserve renal function. These findings have significantly changed the management of patients with acute heart failure. Dr. Chen's program continues to discover and translate novel therapeutics for heart failure.

Professional highlights

• Editorial board, JACC Heart Failure, 2012-present
• Elected member, The American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2012
• Member, Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee, Heart Failure Society of America, 2008-2010