Liya Xu

Liya Xu is an Assistant Professor of Research Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California, specializing in ocular cancer research. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from USC in 2010 and focuses on developing aqueous humor as a liquid biopsy for retinoblastoma.

Dr. Xu's research integrates patient data and high-content analysis to understand ocular cancer dynamics. Her pioneering work on aqueous humor biopsy has transformed retinoblastoma management, enabling precision medicine approaches for pediatric eye cancer. She develops novel diagnostic methods for early cancer detection and treatment monitoring.

Her publications demonstrate consistent innovation in liquid biopsy techniques for ocular cancers. Research trends show progression from fundamental molecular analysis to clinical validation of aqueous humor diagnostics for uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma.

Awards include the Knight Templar Eye Foundation Pediatric Ophthalmology Career-Starter Research Grant (2021).