Jinghui Liu

Jinghui Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, drug resistance, and therapeutic targeting, particularly in prostate and lung cancers. Key areas include PLK1 signaling, androgen receptor (AR) regulation, epigenetic modifications (e.g., bromodomain inhibitors), and CRISPR-based synthetic lethality screening.

His work explores how kinases like PLK1 and CK1α contribute to therapeutic resistance, as well as the role of environmental toxins (e.g., Cr (VI)) in driving cancer through mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy. Liu’s studies also investigate the interplay between epigenetic regulators (p300/CBP, DNMT3a) and immune checkpoint blockade efficacy, highlighting translational applications in cancer therapy.

Notable research contributions include identifying PLK1 as a therapeutic target for overcoming resistance to antiandrogens like enzalutamide, and developing dual-gRNA CRISPR libraries to uncover synthetic lethal interactions. His findings bridge basic mechanistic insights with clinical applications in precision oncology.