Li-Fang Chu

Dr. Li-Fang Chu serves as an Assistant Professor (Teaching & Research) in the Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Cellular Reprogramming and maintains significant affiliations with the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) as a Child Health & Wellness Researcher and with the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health as an Associate Member. Dr. Chu leads the Reproduction and Regenerative Medicine Research Group and directs the Chu Lab, which focuses on fundamental questions in developmental biology.

Dr. Chu received his BSc from National Taiwan University followed by a PhD in cell and molecular biology from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed postdoctoral training with Dr. James Thomson at the Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he developed expertise in stem cell biology and developmental timing. He joined the University of Calgary in August 2020.

Dr. Chu's research program centers on understanding the principles governing temporal and spatial patterning in development and disease. His lab is particularly interested in the developmental clock - investigating why different species have vastly different gestation periods and how genes regulate the tempo of embryonic development. The Chu Lab developed an in vitro segmentation clock model derived from human embryonic stem cells, which recapitulates species-specific gene oscillatory periodicity. This innovative system allows researchers to study how the developmental clock operates and how its misregulation causes congenital vertebral malformations.

Analysis of Dr. Chu's publication record reveals a consistent focus on developmental timing mechanisms, cellular reprogramming, and stem cell-based disease modeling. His work bridges fundamental developmental biology with potential clinical applications in regenerative medicine. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in methodology, incorporating advanced techniques like single-cell transcriptomics, real-time live-cell imaging, and 3D organoid systems to address complex questions in developmental biology.

Dr. Chu's scientific recognition includes:

• Tier II Canada Research Chair in Cellular Reprogramming (CIHR, 2021)

Dr. Chu teaches several courses including VETM 422 Virology, VETM 702 Advanced Topics in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, VETM 324 Genetics and Molecular Biology, and MDSC 609.02 Genes and Development. His research has attracted significant attention, with multiple news features highlighting his work on pig-human genetic relationships, pig retinal cells for eye treatments, reindeer antlers and human limb regeneration, and the observation of the human developmental clock.

The Chu Lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining pluripotent stem cell culture, differentiation, organoids, cellular reprogramming, gene editing, real-time live-cell imaging, luminescence imaging, lineage-tracing, mouse genetics, flow cytometry, and single-cell and bulk RNA-seq. The lab's long-term goals include understanding fundamental mechanisms regulating developmental timing, identifying genetic factors controlling developmental clocks across species, and pursuing novel therapeutic strategies for disorders caused by misregulation of developmental clocks.