Ran Liu

Ran Liu, MD, is a Research Assistant Professor in Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). He is a member of the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences and the Institute for Healthy Aging Research. His primary research focuses on translational stroke therapy, particularly extending the therapeutic window of rtPA and exploring novel treatments like methylene blue for cognitive impairment.

Education:

• MD, Beijing Medical University

Research Interests:

Dr. Liu’s work targets ischemic stroke mechanisms, including neurovascular unit protection, estrogen-based therapies, and GABAA receptor modulation. He investigates post-stroke cognitive deficits and explores repurposing drugs like methylene blue to mitigate hippocampal GABAergic inhibition. His studies also address astrocyte dysfunction and metabolic aspects of stroke recovery.

Grants & Projects:

• Post Stroke Cognitive Impairment: Mechanism and Therapy (NINDS, 2019–2024)
• Metformin and Cognition (UNTHSC Intramural, 2016–2017)

Labs & Collaborations:

His lab collaborates on projects involving stroke-induced tauopathy, astrocyte-specific knockout mice, and Nestlé-funded dietary studies in Alzheimer’s models. Key collaborators include Prof. Yang, Sumien, and Jin.