Research Scientist, Surgery Service, SFVAMC
Associate Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery, UCSF

Email: jialing.liu@ucsf.edu

Dr. Liu's fields of research include neurogenesis, regeneration, brain plasticity, and functional recovery in the context of stroke, hypoglycemia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). She is one of the leading investigators studying the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis, regeneration, cell death, and neurovascular remodeling after ischemic stroke. Due to the common occurrence of these types of brain injuries in our veteran population, her research is highly relevant to the mission of VA healthcare. Dr. Liu has tackled fundamental issues in how the brain recovers from injury from several key directions. A substantial amount of her early work was in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the initial response to, and progression of, brain injury. Dr. Liu's team was the first group to show that cerebral ischemia - interruption of blood flow - increases the formation of new brain cells in the dentate gyrus in an experimental model. Many laboratories have subsequently confirmed this finding in animal models. At present, the strategy of promoting neuronal regeneration via endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells holds promise for patients suffering from stroke; however, many questions remain as to how enhanced neurogenesis can be achieved and how it is involved in the recovery of function. Establishing the mechanistic basis and signaling pathways involved in mediating neurogenesis has become the main mission of Dr. Liu's recent and ongoing research.

Wang Y, Hong SM, Bontempi B, Weinstein PR, Abrams GM, Liu J. 2008. Environmental enrichment reduces gait impairment after experimental stroke. J Cere Blood Flow & Meta 28:1936-50.

Neumann M, Wang Y, Kim S, Hong SM, Jeng L, Bilgen M, Liu J. 2009. Assessing gait impairment following traumatic brain injury in mice. J Neurosci Methods 176: 34-44.