The long-term goal of Dr. Chen's research is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie synapse function during behavior in the developing and mature brain, and how synapse function is altered during mental retardation. In this broad research area, Dr. Chen is specifically interested in the homeostatic control of synaptic strength, the role of postsynaptic protein translation in this control, and the impairment of synapses in Fragile X syndrome that involves changes in postsynaptic protein translation and synaptic strength.