About Academician Chen Saijuan
Academician Chen Saijuan (陈赛娟) is Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and one of the world's foremost authorities on the genetics and molecular biology of leukemia, the genomic architecture of hematological malignancies, and the translation of genomic discoveries into precision medicine for blood cancers. Based at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — the institution where she and her husband Academician Chen Zhu, together with Academician Wang Zhenyi, completed the development of the arsenic trioxide (ATO) plus all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) protocol that cures acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) — Academician Chen Saijuan is internationally recognized as one of the most influential hematology researchers of her generation and a global leader in the application of genomics and molecular biology to the understanding and treatment of leukemia.
Academician Chen Saijuan's election to both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering — an honor held by only a handful of individuals in China, reflecting exceptional contributions to both fundamental science and its practical application — reflects the extraordinary breadth and depth of her contributions to leukemia biology, genomics, and translational medicine. Her laboratory at Ruijin Hospital and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has been at the forefront of research into the genomic landscape of AML and APL, the molecular mechanisms of leukemogenesis, the role of non-coding RNAs and epigenetic regulation in hematological malignancies, and the development of genomic biomarkers for leukemia diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response prediction that are now in routine clinical use across China and internationally.
Clinically, Academician Chen Saijuan provides expert consultation for patients with complex hematological malignancies — particularly APL, AML, and other leukemias where genomic and molecular insights are directly applicable to clinical decision-making — and is a key figure in Ruijin Hospital's world-renowned hematology program. Her consultations are particularly valuable for patients with molecularly complex or genomically unusual leukemia, patients with refractory or relapsed disease where standard treatment algorithms are insufficient, and patients seeking access to genomically guided investigational therapies through Ruijin Hospital's active clinical trials program.
Hospital Affiliation: Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, is one of Shanghai's most prestigious academic medical centers and the global home of APL differentiation therapy. The Department of Hematology at Ruijin Hospital is internationally renowned for the development of ATRA and ATO therapy for APL and is consistently ranked among the top hematology programs in Asia. The department manages a high volume of complex hematological malignancy cases annually and operates an active bone marrow transplantation program, a CAR-T cell therapy program, and one of China's most active hematology clinical trials programs, with a particular emphasis on genomically guided precision therapy.
The department's genomics and molecular diagnostics infrastructure is among the most advanced in China, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for comprehensive leukemia mutation profiling, whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing for research and selected clinical applications, RNA sequencing for fusion gene detection and transcriptomic profiling, and a bioinformatics team capable of interpreting complex genomic data in the clinical context. The department maintains research collaborations with genomics and hematology centers at the Broad Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and leading European and Asian institutions.
Clinical Expertise & Research Focus
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) — ATRA plus ATO differentiation therapy; molecular monitoring of PML-RARα for MRD assessment; management of high-risk APL; APL with variant RARA fusion partners; management of differentiation syndrome and coagulopathy; salvage therapy for relapsed APL; long-term follow-up and late effects; genomic characterization of APL at diagnosis and relapse
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — comprehensive genomic profiling and molecular subtyping (FLT3-ITD/TKD, NPM1, CEBPA, IDH1/2, RUNX1, ASXL1, TP53, DNMT3A, TET2, and others); ELN 2022 risk stratification; targeted therapy with FLT3 inhibitors (midostaurin, gilteritinib, quizartinib), IDH inhibitors (enasidenib, ivosidenib, olutasidenib), venetoclax combinations, and menin inhibitors for KMT2A-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML; allogeneic stem cell transplantation; access to genomically matched investigational agents through clinical trials
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and clonal hematopoiesis — genomic profiling and IPSS-M risk stratification; interpretation of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and its clinical implications; hypomethylating agent therapy; venetoclax combinations; allogeneic stem cell transplantation for high-risk MDS
- Genomic and precision medicine consultation — expert interpretation of comprehensive NGS leukemia panels; identification of rare or novel mutations and their clinical significance; evaluation of genomically matched targeted therapy options including off-label and investigational agents; assessment of germline predisposition to hematological malignancy (GATA2, DDX41, RUNX1, CEBPA germline mutations); coordination of family screening for hereditary hematological malignancy syndromes
- Minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring — molecular MRD monitoring by RT-PCR and digital PCR for APL (PML-RARα), AML (NPM1, RUNX1-RUNX1T1, CBFB-MYH11), and CML (BCR-ABL1); flow cytometry MRD assessment; interpretation of MRD results in the context of treatment decisions including transplantation timing and maintenance therapy
- Lymphoma and myeloma genomics — coordination with Ruijin Hospital's lymphoma and myeloma specialists for genomically complex cases; interpretation of lymphoma and myeloma genomic profiling results; access to CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibody programs
- Expert second opinion — review of bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetics, comprehensive molecular profiling, and treatment records for patients with AML, APL, MDS, or other hematological malignancies who are seeking a genomically informed second opinion; written English-language second opinion reports available through CMCS
Academic Leadership & Research Contributions
Academician Chen Saijuan is one of the most prolific and internationally cited hematology researchers in the world. She has authored and co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications in Chinese and international journals, including landmark contributions to Nature Genetics, Nature Medicine, Blood, New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Cell, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Chinese Medical Journal. Her research has elucidated the genomic landscape of AML and APL through large-scale sequencing studies, identified novel driver mutations and fusion genes in leukemia, characterized the role of non-coding RNAs (including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs) in leukemogenesis and drug resistance, and developed genomic biomarkers for leukemia prognosis and treatment response that are now incorporated into international clinical guidelines.
Academician Chen Saijuan has served as editor-in-chief of the Chinese Journal of Hematology and editorial board member of Blood, Leukemia, and multiple other international hematology journals. She is a past president of the Chinese Society of Hematology (CSH) and has served on the scientific advisory boards of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the European Hematology Association (EHA), and the International Society of Hematology (ISH). She has been a keynote speaker at ASH, EHA, the International Congress of Hematology, and major international genomics and precision medicine conferences, and is recognized globally as one of the most influential voices in leukemia genomics and precision hematology.
Academician Chen Saijuan has trained more than 100 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows who now lead hematology and genomics programs at major institutions across China and internationally. Her dual election to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering reflects the extraordinary impact of her work on both the fundamental understanding of leukemia biology and the practical application of genomic discoveries to improve patient outcomes.
Why International Patients Choose Academician Chen Saijuan
For international patients with genomically complex or molecularly unusual leukemia — including AML with rare mutations, APL with variant RARA fusions, leukemia arising in the context of germline predisposition syndromes, or refractory disease where standard treatment algorithms have failed — Academician Chen Saijuan's combination of world-class genomic expertise, deep clinical experience, and access to Ruijin Hospital's translational research pipeline represents a genuinely unique resource.
Many international patients arrive at CMCS after receiving a comprehensive NGS leukemia panel result that their home hematologist is unable to fully interpret or act upon — either because the mutations identified are rare or novel, because the clinical significance of the findings is uncertain, or because the identified mutations suggest eligibility for targeted therapies or clinical trials that are not available in the patient's home country. Academician Chen Saijuan's ability to provide expert genomic interpretation, identify actionable targets, and connect patients with matched investigational therapies through Ruijin Hospital's clinical trials program is of decisive value in these situations.
For patients with APL — the disease whose treatment was transformed by the work of Academician Chen Saijuan and her colleagues at Ruijin Hospital — the institution's unmatched experience with ATRA and ATO therapy, its molecular MRD monitoring capabilities, and its deep understanding of APL biology at the genomic level provide a standard of care that is genuinely unparalleled. Treatment costs at Ruijin Hospital are substantially lower than equivalent care in Western healthcare systems, and the speed of access to specialist consultation and comprehensive molecular diagnostic workup is typically far faster than in public healthcare systems abroad.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Consultations with Academician Chen Saijuan begin with a comprehensive review of all prior diagnostic results — including bone marrow biopsy and aspirate reports, cytogenetics (karyotype and FISH), comprehensive molecular profiling (NGS panel, RT-PCR for fusion genes, digital PCR for MRD), flow cytometry immunophenotyping, complete blood count trends, and all prior treatment records including chemotherapy regimens, targeted therapy, and transplant history. CMCS will arrange certified translation of all medical records, laboratory reports, and pathology results in advance of the consultation.
Academician Chen Saijuan will assess the genomic profile and molecular subtype, provide expert interpretation of complex or unusual molecular findings, evaluate the adequacy of prior treatment and the reasons for treatment failure where applicable, outline the recommended treatment strategy — including the role of genomically matched targeted therapy, clinical trial participation, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation — with detailed rationale, and provide a realistic assessment of expected outcomes. A multidisciplinary hematology team review involving bone marrow transplantation, CAR-T cell therapy, and molecular diagnostics will be coordinated as appropriate. A written English-language consultation summary — including genomic interpretation, diagnostic assessment, recommended treatment plan, and follow-up protocol — is provided after every appointment, and CMCS will facilitate direct communication between Academician Chen Saijuan's team and the patient's home hematologist for continuity of care planning.
Book a Consultation Through CMCS
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides comprehensive end-to-end support for international patients seeking precision hematology consultation with Academician Chen Saijuan at Ruijin Hospital. Our services include priority consultation scheduling with Academician Chen Saijuan's team and the multidisciplinary hematology and genomics program, certified medical record and laboratory report translation, pre-consultation genomic and pathology review by our clinical coordinators, hospital logistics and admission coordination, visa and travel support, accommodation recommendations near Ruijin Hospital, on-site interpretation throughout the consultation and treatment process, pharmacy and targeted therapy coordination, and ongoing follow-up coordination between Academician Chen Saijuan's team and the patient's home hematologist after return.
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