معرفی
Qin Liu, PhD, is a Full Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology with secondary appointments in Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine. She joined the institution in 2012 following postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Microbiology from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (2004)
- Postdoctoral training in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine/Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2012)
Dr. Liu's research pioneers the neural mechanisms underlying sensory symptoms in allergic and infectious diseases. Her work employs genetically modified mouse models to dissect anatomical and functional dichotomy of ocular itch/pain, neural pathways for sneezing/coughing reflexes, and neuropathways from sensory receptors to parasympathetic effectors. Key discoveries include novel non-histaminergic itch receptors and distinct sensory innervation patterns in ocular and nasal tissues.
Her high-impact publications (Nature Medicine 2018, Cell 2021) reveal fundamental neural circuits for allergic symptoms, bridging neuroscience, immunology, and sensory biology. Current research extends these findings to viral infection pathways with therapeutic implications for chronic itch and respiratory disorders.
Dr. Liu leads a research group utilizing molecular, cellular, and behavioral techniques to identify new drug targets for symptom management in allergic and infectious diseases.
