Prof Gong Chen is a director of the Institute of Ageing Studies and a director of the Institute of Population Research at Peking University, editor in chief of the Journal of Population and Development and deputy editor of the Journal of Disability Research in China.

As the principal investigator Prof. Chen successfully conducted more than 50 national research projects on population health and ageing, the ageing industry, gerontechnology, and disability prevention supported by the Natural Science Foundation, National Social Science Fund, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other state ministries and commissions in China. Prof. Chen also directed an assessment of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in China in the fifth and tenth years. Prof. Chen was the leader for a national experts group of disability and ageing for the government and has participated in drafting, revising and writing many major national policy documents on population ageing and disability.

In recent years, Prof. Chen has published more than 40 SCI/SSCI papers and more than 60 CSSCI/CSCD articles. He has translated 5 books and published 3 books. He has won more than 20 scientific research awards such as the first prize of science and technology progress award by the Ministry of Education, the special award in a disability survey by the State Council.

Prof Chen served as the director of Voluntary Service and Charity Division of CAGG, director of Disability and Statistics of CDRS,  technical expert of the National Information and Accessibility Expert Committee, an executive member of the council of the China National Industry Association on Ageing and so on.

In 2010, Prof Chen was elected as a member of the youth committee of Chinese Central Government Departments. In May 2014, Prof Chen was awarded as the National Advanced Individual in Helping People with Disabilities, met by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. In 2015, Prof. Chen reported on a proposal of the disability and social welfare system to the CPPCC Chairman, Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, which was broadcasted on CCTV news.