Yutong Liu, PhD
The research endeavors of Yutong Liu, PhD, encompass the development and application of innovative MRI techniques to advance our understanding of central nervous system health and disease, with the overarching goal of making meaningful contributions to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.
Drawing upon a rich background in bioimaging, with a particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging, Dr. Liu specializes in the development and implementation of advanced imaging and image analysis methodologies tailored to investigate a wide spectrum of human diseases modeled in small animals and nonhuman primates. His extensive research portfolio spans various areas of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including HIV infection, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, drug addiction and cancer. Throughout his career, he has employed a diverse array of cutting-edge MRI techniques to dissect the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these conditions. By leveraging the power of MRI, he aims to unravel the complexities of central nervous system disorders, elucidating disease progression, and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Dr. Liu is also the director of the Preclinical MRI Core Facility.
Funding
NIH/NIMH R21MH134678
Our goal is to deploy novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques to noninvasively track antiretroviral drugs in the central nervous system and measure virus-associated metabolites linked to neuropathological and neuroprotective outcomes resulting from antiretroviral drugs.
PI: Yutong Liu
NIH/NIMH R21MH128123
The goal is to develop human immunodeficiency virus theranostics for the central nervous system based on the intrinsic chemical exchange saturation transfer contrasts of antiretroviral drugs.
PI: Yutong Liu
NIH/NIGMS P20GM130447
PI: Anna Dunaevsky; Preclinical Imaging Core: Yutong Liu
NIH/NICHD R01HD115482
Proposal seeks to examine “dolutegravir inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases activity” as a novel underlying mechanism for dolutegravir-associatedneurodevelopmental impairment (prenatal and postnatal) and assess long-acting poloxamer-encapsulated dolutegravir nanoformulations as potential delivery means to attenuate such drug-associated neurotoxicity.
PI: Aditya Bade; Co-I: Yutong Liu
NIH/NIMH R01MH121402
This award is to convert nucleoside reverse transcriptase and an integrase inhibitor(s) into long-acting slow effective release antiretroviral nanocrystals with improved safety and efficacy against human immunodeficiency virus infection. Prodrug nanocrystals are lipophilic and stabilized by biocompatible surfactants. The formulations are being developed with the potential to extend drug-dosing intervals up to once every six months.
PI: Howard Gendelman; Co-I: Yutong Liu
NIH/NIDA R01DA054535
Aims of the proposal are to completely characterize the new humanized microglial mouse model of HIV brain infection in establishing linkages to human disease, and to comprehensively evaluate the central nervous system viral reservoir during cART and drug abuse.
PI: Santhi Gorantla; Co-I: Yutong Liu
Yutong Liu, PhD
Professor, Department of Radiology
Director, Bioimaging Core Lab