Yi Liu
PhD
Scientist, Regenerative Medicine
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Contact
Bio
Dr. Liu received his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Toronto and completed his postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on leveraging human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies to establish human cell-based models for investigating the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. His lab is developing a suite of models, including two-dimensional (2D) neural differentiation systems, three-dimensional (3D) cerebral organoids, and in vivo human-mouse chimeric models. By integrating proteomics, super-resolution imaging, and single-cell multi-omics approaches, his lab aims to dissect the transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that govern human neuronal development and to understand how these processes are disrupted in disease. Through the identification of critical cellular pathways and disease-relevant genomic regions, his lab seeks to catalyze mechanism-driven therapeutic development, with a focus on integrating advanced drug delivery systems and gene therapy strategies.
Research Goals and Interests
The Liu Lab aims to decode how gene regulation and nuclear organization drive human neurodevelopment and disease. Leveraging induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and human embryonic stem cells (hESC), we engineer 2D neural differentiation models, 3D cerebral organoids, and in vivo human–mouse chimeras to capture human-specific developmental processes. Cutting-edge single-cell multi-omics, CUT&Tag epigenome mapping, and super-resolution imaging are integrated to reveal how transcription factors and their contact hubs orchestrate—and how mutations misregulate—neuronal transcriptional and chromatin programs in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on Rett syndrome (RTT) and autism spectrum disorders. By identifying disease-relevant pathways and regulatory elements, the lab seeks to pioneer mechanism-driven therapeutics, including advanced drug delivery platforms and gene therapy strategies.
