Ziqing Liu

Ziqing Liu, PhD

Dr. Ziqing Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where she leads the Liu Laboratory focusing on cardiovascular regeneration. Her research integrates single-cell omics, CRISPR screening, and mouse models to address challenges in heart repair after myocardial infarction. She completed her PhD at Indiana University (2014) and postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, studying cardiac reprogramming and vascular development under mentors Dr. Li Qian and Dr. Victoria Bautch.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Life Science, School of the Gifted Young, University of Science & Technology of China (2008)
• PhD in Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University (2014)
• Postdoctoral Research, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill (2018)
• Research Associate, Integrative Program for Biological & Genome Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill (2022)

Research Interests

Dr. Liu's lab explores two main areas: direct cardiac reprogramming (converting fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes) and angiogenesis (forming new blood vessels). Her work combines epigenetic and RNA-binding protein mechanisms with advanced omics techniques to uncover barriers to heart regeneration. Key focuses include:

• Epigenetic regulators of endothelial cell behavior
• Splicing factors in cardiovascular development
• Species-specific differences in human cardiac reprogramming

Articles Trends

Her recent work emphasizes single-cell transcriptomics to study endothelial heterogeneity under flow conditions (e.g., retinal angiogenesis) and CRISPR-based screens to identify epigenetic modifiers enhancing cardiac reprogramming efficiency. Findings highlight critical roles for SMAD6 in vascular stability and SUN1 in endothelial junction integrity.

Awards

Notable recognitions include:

• 2023 American Heart Association Career Development Award
• 2023 MCW Cardiovascular Center Keelan Scholar Award

Advising & Labs

Current lab members include graduate student Jesse Cullison, postdoc Hina Iqbal, and lab managers Emily Clifford and Katherine Hamm. Dr. Liu mentors trainees in experimental design, omics analysis, and translational research. The lab uses mouse models (e.g., neonatal retina, LAD ligation) and human endothelial cell systems to bridge basic science and clinical applications.

Labs & Teams

The Liu Lab collaborates with the MCW Cardiovascular Center and maintains affiliations with the American Heart Association and North American Vascular Biology Organization. Ongoing projects aim to develop novel therapies for ischemic heart disease through epigenetic modulation and vascular regeneration.