Pengda Liu

Pengda Liu, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis with emphasis on aberrant signaling events mediated by protein modifications and protein-protein interactions.

Liu received his PhD from East Carolina University and has established himself as a leading researcher in cancer cell biology. His educational background has provided the foundation for his innovative approach to understanding cancer signaling pathways.

Dr. Liu's research interests center on dysregulated cell signaling in cancer, particularly focusing on PI3K/mTOR/Akt signaling pathways, ubiquitin signaling (deubiquitinases/E3 ubiquitin ligases), and innate immune signaling (cGAS/STING). His lab takes a systems-level approach to decipher how cancer-associated signaling misfires, examining not only tumor-intrinsic signaling but also interactions with the tumor microenvironment. A key interest is exploring the therapeutic potential of enzymes, particularly through their inhibition using small molecules or antibody-based approaches.

His publication record reveals a strong focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and metastasis, with recent work highlighting the role of 2'3'-cGAMP in cell migration independent of innate immunity, the development of targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma, and the intricate relationship between DNA damage response and immune signaling in cancer.

• Yang Family Biomedical Scholars Award, UNC School of Medicine, 2023-24
• Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Scholarly Achievement, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2023
• Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation Award, 2022
• American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Innovation Challenge Winner, 2021
• Department of Defense Kidney Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award, 2021

Dr. Liu actively mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, with Yu Deng, PhD, serving as first author on significant publications from his lab. His research has been supported by numerous prestigious grants including the National Cancer Institute Pathway to Independence Award, Department of Defense funding, and multiple foundation grants. The Liu Lab has made notable contributions to understanding how dysregulated signaling pathways contribute to cancer development and metastasis, with findings that have translational potential for novel cancer therapies.

The Pengda Liu Lab consists of a team of scientists dedicated to understanding how dysregulation of kinase signaling (PI3K/mTOR/Akt), ubiquitin signaling, and innate immune signaling contribute to human diseases using biochemical, cellular, genetic, pharmacological and bioinformatical approaches. Recent work has led to the development of a small molecule targeting Ewing sarcoma that has progressed to human clinical trials.