Ke Jian “Jim” Liu, PhD

Ke Jian “Jim” Liu, PhD   

Dr. Ke Jian Jim LiuAssociate Director for Basic Science
Stony Brook Cancer Center

Professor
Department of Pathology

MART Level 7, Room 0830
Lauterbur Drive
Stony Brook, NY 11794-7263
Phone: (631) 216-2823  
e-mail: kejian.liu@stonybrookmedicine.edu

 

Dr. “Jim” Liu is a well-established investigator with primary research interest in investigating the molecular mechanisms of metal toxicity and carcinogenesis, particularly arsenic co-carcinogenesis in enhancing UV-induced DNA damage, inhibition of DNA repair, and formation of mutational signatures assessed by whole genome sequencing. His research interests also include developing technology and approaches to study oxidative stress in disease development and alteration of tissue oxygenation, such as hypoxia is tumor tissue. A particular strength of their research is the utilization of multidisciplinary approaches, using techniques ranging from chemical to biochemical to biophysical, and from molecular and cellular level to animal models, to answer the specific biological questions. Their research efforts have been continuously supported by numerous NIH grants since 1997, leading to the publications of over 240 peer-reviewed papers.

During his long research career, over 30 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior research faculty have been trained and mentored in his lab, with many of them now being independent PIs in academic institutions and government agencies. Most notably, from 2004 to 2018, he served as the associate director, and then director/PI, of the NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellent (COBRE) program (P30GM103400). A major goal of the program is to train and mentor junior faculty so that they can successfully compete for NIH R01 funding. He also had served as the Associate Dean for Research at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy and was responsible for developing research programs and mentoring faculty. He is passionate about training next generation of researchers and enthusiastic about helping junior investigators in developing their academic career. 

Education:      
Institution and Location Degree Year Field of Study
Peking University, Beijing, China BSc 1982 Chemistry
The University of Leeds, England     PhD 1988 Radiation Biochemistry

Postdoctoral Training 
1988-1989

Biophysical Chemistry, Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Indiana

1990-1993 Biophysics/Physiology, Department of Biophysics & Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

Major Research Interests
Molecular mechanism of environmental arsenic and chromium-induced toxicology and carcinogenesis
Interaction of metals with zinc-containing proteins, and zinc supplement as a chemoprevention strategy for reducing arsenic toxicity and carcinogenesis
Arsenic co-carcinogenesis in enhancing UV-induced DNA damage, inhibition of DNA repair, and formation of mutational signatures assessed by whole genome sequencing
Molecular mechanism of brain injury and neuroprotection in stroke 
In vivo imaging of oxidative stress and tissue oxygenation
Current and Previous Appointments
2022-present Professor, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
2022-present Associate Director for Basic Research, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY. 
2017-2022 Distinguished Professor, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2013-2022 Associate Dean for Research, Coll. of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2009-2017 Director, Brain Imaging Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2008-2013 Assistant Dean for Research, Coll. of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2006-2022 Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2004-2009 Associate Director, Brain Imaging Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2003-present Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Neurology, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
2002-2006 Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1999-2002 Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1993-1999 Research Assistant Professor and Lab Manager, EPR Center for the Study of Viable Biological Systems, Department of Radiology, Dartmouth Medical School, NH