Dr. Tian Liu completed his PhD at Seoul National University in South Korea in 2014. He completed his post-doctoral training and became an Assistant Professor at USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in 2018. Dr. Liu joined the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 2021 as an Assistant Professor. His research focuses on the mitochondria-associated proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
My research focuses on the investigations on the role of genetic factors and mitochondria-associated mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using both dry and wet lab multiple approaches. Our goal is to understand mechanistic insights into genetic variants causing the pathogenesis of diseases and to develop translational therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders.
Research Information
Research Interests
Dr. Tian Liu’s research focuses on elucidating the roles of mitochondrial function in human aging-related diseases and health using genetic and multi-omics (i.e., proteomics and metabolomics) approaches. By investigating mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion and fission, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, and mitochondria-related autophagy, he examines how changes in mitochondrial function impact cellular protein homeostasis and nuclear-mitochondrial interactions. These changes ultimately affect various biological processes, such as cellular bioenergetics, immune response, genomic stability, and programmed cell death. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses unbiased multi-omics, including proteomics, transcriptomics, and genomics, as well as cellular and molecular biology techniques, advanced imaging, nucleotide (antagoNATs), and viral vector-based gene therapy (AAV), patient fibroblast-converted cellular cultures and animal models, he aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms by which mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts cellular metabolism and contributes to human diseases and health.
While focusing on mitochondrial function, the lab investigates mitochondria-associated genetic factors in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) such as Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Dr. Tian Liu began his scientific research career in neuroscience in 2008 as a master's student focusing on glial cell-related neuroinflammation. Since the beginning of his PhD study in 2010, his studies have been focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal loss in AD and ADRD. Dr. Tian Liu aims to develop translational therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders. His specific research interests include:
- Investigating crosstalk between mitochondria and other organelles (such as, ER, nucleus) in mitochondria-mediated unfolded protein responses
- Identifying and investigating neuropathological signatures of mitochondrial dysfunction in AD and ADRD through assessments of transcriptome and proteome.
- Exploring genetic variants strongly associated with amyloid beta production and neurotoxicity using multi-omics approaches.
- Investigating the genetic factors in mitochondria underlying the crosstalk between TDP-43 pathology and tauopathy in AD and exploring intervention strategies.
- Understanding the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction and developing mitochondria-based therapeutic approaches in AD and ADRD.
- Studying the role of selective autophagy and mitophagy in the accumulation of toxic components in neurodegenerative processes.
Recent Funding
Active NIH Awards as PD/PI:
1R01AG086365 (Liu, PD/PI), 08/01/2024 - 04/30/2029
1R03AG084948 (Liu, PD/PI), 08/015/2024 - 7/30/2026