Chen X. Chen
Dr. Chen X. Chen is the Sorensen Endowed Professor at University of Arizona College of Nursing. Her broad areas of research interests are pain management, women's health, and biobehavioral research methods.
She has dedicated her career to the study of dysmenorrhea, commonly known as menstrual pain. Recognizing the prevalence of this condition and its potential to lead to other chronic pain conditions, Dr. Chen has challenged the historical dismissal of dysmenorrhea by the scientific and clinical communities. She aspires to promote person-centered and equitable dysmenorrhea care, ultimately improving the quality of life for people who menstruate and mitigating future pain risks.
Dr. Chen has received research funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Currently, she serves as the principal investigator on an R01 grant funded by the NICHD, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers. Her research has been cited by scholars from 50 countries and featured in popular media outlets, raising public awareness of dysmenorrhea. Her research has also garnered recognition through invited presentations and requests for consultation nationally and internationally.
In addition to her research, Dr. Chen is a dedicated mentor, having guided undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Her commitment to teaching has been recognized with the Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award.
Dr. Chen also contributes to the broader scientific community through her service on several committees. She is a member of the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science Program Committee, US Association for the Study of Pain Education and Professional Development Committee, and an international task force focused on developing a taxonomy for female pelvic pain.
Dr. Chen received her MS and PhD in Nursing from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Postdoctoral Fellowship from Indiana University. She is a fellow of American Academy of Nursing and a Mayday fellow.