معرفی
Dr. Jun-Li Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University, and a Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) at the Glen site. She is affiliated with the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program within the Centre for Translational Biology, focusing on diabetes research and pancreatic islet biology.
Dr. Liu's educational background includes:
- BSc in Biology from Peking University, China (1978-1982)
- MSc in Physiology from Peking University Health Science Centre, China (1982-1985)
- PhD in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, Montreal, Canada (1990-1995)
- Postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD (1995-2000)
Dr. Liu's research focuses on exploring novel growth factors that can be used to expand or preserve islet beta cells, which produce insulin, to prevent or treat diabetes mellitus. Her current work centers on CCN5/WISP2 and Reg family proteins normally produced in the pancreas, which have shown promise in rodent models of diabetes. Her laboratory investigates how these proteins promote beta-cell proliferation, survival, and regeneration through mechanisms including activation of signaling molecules like Akt and Erk1/2 kinases. The ultimate goal is to develop novel therapeutic approaches for diabetes treatment by exploiting these growth factors and their molecular targets.
Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on pancreatic islet biology, with particular emphasis on CCN5/WISP2 and Reg family proteins. These works span molecular mechanisms of beta-cell growth and survival, connections to diabetes pathogenesis, and potential translational applications. A significant theme across her work is understanding how growth factors might be harnessed for diabetes therapy, with implications for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Liu has received numerous scientific awards and recognitions throughout her career:
- Fellowship award from Medical Research Council of Canada (1996-1999)
- New Investigator Award from The Endocrine Society (1998)
- Fellows Award for Research Excellence from NIH (1999)
- Career Development Award from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (2000-2005)
- Travel Grant Award from The Endocrine Society (2001)
- John R. & Clara M. Fraser Memorial Award from McGill University (2005-2008)
- Chercheurs boursiers Fondamental, Senior, from Fonds de la recherché en santé Quebec (2008-2011)
Dr. Liu has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Diabetes (Blackwell Publishing) since 2008 and the Canadian Journal of Diabetes since 2017. She is also a member of the Montreal Diabetes Research Centre. Her research has been supported by various funding agencies, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and the Medical Research Council of Canada. She has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in her laboratory.
Dr. Liu leads a research laboratory at the RI-MUHC focused on pancreatic islet biology and diabetes research. Her team employs molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches using transgenic and knockout mouse models to investigate the mechanisms by which growth factors regulate beta-cell mass and function. Current projects include studying CCN5/WISP2 and Reg family proteins in beta-cell proliferation, survival, and regeneration, with implications for diabetes therapy. They also investigate the role of Reg proteins in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, exploring their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
