Dr Chia-chi Liu
Adjunct Fellow, Western Sydney University
Visiting Scholar, Heart Research Institiute
Justice of the Peace
Dr Liu is a Senior Research Fellow and Molecular Biologist with expertise in oxidative protein chemistry at University of Sydney. She was a Biochemistry Lecturer in Taipei Medical University Taiwan. Dr Liu completed MSc in Cell and Molecular Biology at Taipei Medical University Taiwan, followed by second MSc in Biotechnology, University of New South Wales. She then completed her PhD within the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Macquarie University.
Dr Liu’s research interests are to translate fundamental molecular discoveries made in the laboratory, into novel pharmaceutical therapies and treatment strategies for heart failure; to establish novel oxidative stress biomarkers to diagnose and monitor the progression of cardiovascular disease and pregancy-related disorders; and to pioneer therapeutic proteins to improve cancer treatments.
All of Dr Liu's teaching is research led and draws from recent research within the discipline. Her teaching is geared towards supervising undergraduate, medical and postgraduate students. As a researcher and teacher, she believes it is her responsibility to challenge and support her students in pursuit of three key learning goals that: (1) develop critical thinking skills to address concepts about crucial research ideas; (2) learn basic research concepts and skills; (3) cultivate an interest in science, and an understanding of how research is undertaken.
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Oxidation inhibition of sodium pump-a novel, pathophysiological relevant biomarker for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy
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Targeting oxidative Na+-K+ pump inhibition to reverse placental dysfunction and intrauterine growth restriction
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Urinary metabolites profiling for the early detection of pregnancy complications.
- Academic Board, Facility of Medicine, University of Sydney
- Member of Society for Free Radical Research-Asia
- Member of The Australian Society for Medical Research
- Member of International Society for Heart Research
- Member of Australian and New Zealand Placental Research Association
- Member ofPerinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
- Free Radical Biology and Medicine: Scientific Judge/Committee and Fellowship Reviewer
- Justices of the Peace
- 2023 Provost's 2024 CAPEX Fund
- 2023 Ramsay Research and Teaching Fund
- 2022 Heart Research Australia Project Award
- 2022 Scientific Staff Council (SSC) for the 2022 Round 2 Ramsay Health Care Travel Fellowship
- 2022 EMCR Boost Publication and Travel Grants Scheme,University of Sydney
- 2022 Scientific Staff Council (SSC) for the 2022 Small Equipment Grant scheme
- 2021 Image featured in the moving gallery on the new International Federation of Placenta Associations website
- 2018 Sydney Medical School Carer Travel Assistance Award
- 2017 Sydney Medical School Carer Travel Assistance Award
- 2016-2018 RNSH Cardiovascular Research Development Project
- 2016-2017 Heart Research Australia Project Award
- 2015-2016 Ramsay Research and Teaching Fund
- 2015 Early Career Researcher Overseas Travel Grant, University of Sydney
- 2015 DVC Research/Bridging Support Fellowship
- 2013-2014 National Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
- 2014 Kolling Travel Award – International, Kolling Medical Research Institute
- 2013 Finalist of Young Investigator Award, 6th Biennial Meeting of Society for Free Radical Research
- 2012 National Heart Foundation Travel Grant Award
- 2012 Early Career Researcher Research Visit Award, University of Sydney
- 2011 North Shore Heart Research Foundation Travel Award
- 2010 Best Early-Postdoctoral Publication Excellence Award, Kolling Medical Research Institute
- 2010 Sydney Medical School New Staff/Early Career Researcher Award
- 2009 Ramsay Health Care or PaLMS International Travel Award
(Chemistry & Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University) Collaborating with A/Professor Jan Gebicki to study the effects of FXYD derivatives on Na pump regulation in cancer cells under gamma irradiation. | |
(Head of Cellular and Diagnostic Proteomics Laboratory, Kolling Institute) collaborating with Professor Robert Baxter to test the in vivo toxicity of FXYD derivatives in mouse cancer modols. | |
(School of Chemistry, University of Sydney) A/Professor Richard Payne: we aim to design and produce FXYD3 analogues, functional and stable for in vivo delivery. | |
(School of Chemistry, University of Sydney) Dr Ronald J. Clarke: This association aims to study the role of pump conformation in susceptibility of ROS by kinetic modelling and the stopped-flow studies on isolated Na+-K+ pump enzyme. | |
(Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Aarhus University,) Collaboration with Professor Flemming Cornelius, investigating the effect of oxidative signals on Na+-K+ ATPase kinetics. | |
(National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark) Collaborating with Dr Henning Bundgaard to establish a phase II clinical trial of a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist (Mirabegron) in Copenhagen. | |
(Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne) Working with Professor Kaethi Geering and Dr Stephanie Bibert to identify the candidate cysteine residue on the beta 1 subunit of Na+-K+ pump subunit that mediates its oxidative regulation. The Geering Laboratory is internationally known for electrophysiology and molecular studies of the Na+-K+ pump in Xenopus oocytes | |
(Burnham Institute for Medical Research) Collaboration with Assistant Professor FRANCESCA MARASSI in the synthesis of recombinant proteins, FXYD/FXYD mutants. |
Selected publications
(Scholars' Press, 2014)
Publications
Books
- Liu, C. (2014). Oxidation Of Ascorbate By Protein Radicals. Saarbrucken: Scholars' Press.
Journals
- Karimi Galougahi, K., Zhang, Y., Kienzle, V., Liu, C., Quek, L., Patel, S., Lau, E., Cordina, R., Figtree, G., Celermajer, D. (2023). β3 adrenergic agonism: A novel pathway which improves right ventricular-pulmonary arterial hemodynamics in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Physiological Reports, 11(1). [More Information]
- Li, M., Yano, M., Ishikawa, S., Inokuchi, M., Ota, T., Tanabe, M., Tada, K., Akiyama, T., Cheng, X., Liu, C., et al (2023). FXYD3 functionally demarcates an ancestral breast cancer stem cell subpopulation with features of drug-tolerant persisters. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 133(22), e166666. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Kim, Y., Teh, R., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Cornelius, F., Baxter, R., Rasmussen, H. (2022). Displacement of Native FXYD Protein From Na+/K+-ATPase With Novel FXYD Peptide Derivatives: Effects on Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity. Frontiers in Oncology, 12, 859216. [More Information]
Conferences
- Liu, C., Seow, J., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2013). Oxidative modification after sheep myocardial infarction-glutathionylation of the beta 1 subunit in cardiac Na+-K+ pump. Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine 16th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA: Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine.
- Figtree, G., White, C., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Chia, K., Rasmussen, H. (2013). PKA inhibits the Na+-K+ pump via PKC-dependent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase and is associated with oxidative modification of the β1 pump subunit in cardiac myocytes. 12th International ATPase Conference, Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University.
- Liu, C., Fry, N., Karimi Galougahi, K., Rasmussen, H., Figtree, G. (2012). Glutathionylation of Erythrocyte Na-K Pump in Heart Failure: A Novel Biomarker That Reflects a Key Oxidative Abnormality In the Heart. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Not published: Not Published.
Patents
- Figtree, G., Liu, C., Fry, N., Galougahi, K. (2017). Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress. Patent No. 9,638,699.
2023
- Karimi Galougahi, K., Zhang, Y., Kienzle, V., Liu, C., Quek, L., Patel, S., Lau, E., Cordina, R., Figtree, G., Celermajer, D. (2023). β3 adrenergic agonism: A novel pathway which improves right ventricular-pulmonary arterial hemodynamics in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Physiological Reports, 11(1). [More Information]
- Li, M., Yano, M., Ishikawa, S., Inokuchi, M., Ota, T., Tanabe, M., Tada, K., Akiyama, T., Cheng, X., Liu, C., et al (2023). FXYD3 functionally demarcates an ancestral breast cancer stem cell subpopulation with features of drug-tolerant persisters. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 133(22), e166666. [More Information]
2022
- Liu, C., Kim, Y., Teh, R., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Cornelius, F., Baxter, R., Rasmussen, H. (2022). Displacement of Native FXYD Protein From Na+/K+-ATPase With Novel FXYD Peptide Derivatives: Effects on Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity. Frontiers in Oncology, 12, 859216. [More Information]
- Afrose, D., Chen, H., Ranashinghe, A., Liu, C., Henessy, A., Hansbro, P., McClements, L. (2022). The diagnostic potential of oxidative stress biomarkers for preeclampsia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Biology of Sex Differences, 13(1). [More Information]
2021
- Bubb, K., Tang, O., Gentile, C., Moosavi, S., Hansen, T., Liu, C., Di Bartolo, B., Figtree, G. (2021). FXYD1 Is Protective Against Vascular Dysfunction. Hypertension, 77(6), 2104-2116. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Zhang, Y., Makris, A., Rasmussen, H., Hennessy, A. (2021). S-glutathionylation of the Na+-K+ Pump: A Novel Redox Mechanism in Preeclampsia. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 106(4), 1091-1100. [More Information]
2020
- Xu, B., Makris, A., Liu, C., Hennessy, A. (2020). Calcium deficient placental growth restriction is mediated by an increase in non-invasive integrin alpha-5 and beta-4 phenotype. Pregnancy Hypertension, 19, 138-142. [More Information]
- Fry, N., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Karimi Galougahi, K., Kim, Y., Whalley, D., Bundgaard, H., Rasmussen, H. (2020). Targeting Cardiac Myocyte Na+-K+Pump Function with beta 3 Adrenergic Agonist in Rabbit Model of Severe Congestive Heart Failure. Circulation. Heart Failure, 13(9), 404-413. [More Information]
2017
- Figtree, G., Liu, C., Fry, N., Galougahi, K. (2017). Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress. Patent No. 9,638,699.
2016
- Karimigalougahi, K., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Gentile, C., Fry, N., Hamilton, E., Hawkins, C., Figtree, G. (2016). Beta3 adrenergic stimulation restores nitric oxide/redox balance and enhances endothelial function in hyperglycemia. Journal of the American Heart Association, 5(2), 1-17. [More Information]
- Garcia, A., Liu, C., Cornelius, F., Clarke, R., Rasmussen, H. (2016). Glutathionylation-dependence of Na+ -K+ -pump currents can mimic reduced subsarcolemmal Na+ diffusion. Biophysical Journal, 110(5), 1099-1109. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Teh, R., Mozar, C., Baxter, R., Rasmussen, H. (2016). Silencing overexpression of FXYD3 protein in breast cancer cells amplifies effects of doxorubicin and y -radiation on Na+/K+-ATPase and cell survival. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 155(2), 203-213. [More Information]
2015
- Karimigalougahi, K., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Fry, N., Hamilton, E., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2015). Beta3-Adrenoceptor activation relieves oxidative inhibition of the cardiac Na+-K+ pump in hyperglycemia induced by insulin receptor blockade. American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, 309(5), C286-C295. [More Information]
- Chia, K., Liu, C., Hamilton, E., Garcia, A., Fry, N., Hannam, W., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2015). Stimulation of the cardiac myocyte NA+-K+ pump due to reversal of its constitutive oxidative inhibition. American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, 309(4), C239-C250. [More Information]
2014
- Karimigalougahi, K., Liu, C., Gentile, C., Kok, C., Nunez, A., Garcia, A., Fry, N., Davies, M., Hawkins, C., Rasmussen, H., Figtree, G. (2014). Glutathionylation Mediates Angiotension II-Induced eNOS Uncoupling, Amplifying NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Endothelial Dysfunction. Journal of the American Heart Association, 3(2), 1-11. [More Information]
- Liu, C. (2014). Oxidation Of Ascorbate By Protein Radicals. Saarbrucken: Scholars' Press.
2013
- Ho, E., Karimigalougahi, K., Liu, C., Bhindi, R., Figtree, G. (2013). Biological markers of oxidative stress: Applications to cardiovascular research and practice. Redox Biology, 1(1), 483-491. [More Information]
- Grieve, S., Lonborg, J., Mazhar, J., Tan, T., Ho, E., Liu, C., Lay, W., Gill, A., Kuchel, P., Bhindi, R., Figtree, G. (2013). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of rapid VCAM-1 up-regulation in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. European Biophysics Journal, 42(1), 61-70. [More Information]
- Garcia, A., Fry, N., Karimi, K., Liu, C., Apell, H., Rasmussen, H., Clarke, R. (2013). Extracellular allosteric Na+ binding to the Na+, K+-ATPase in cardiac myocytes. Biophysical Journal, 105(12), 2695-2705. [More Information]
2012
- Karimigalougahi, K., Liu, C., Bundgaard, H., Rasmussen, H. (2012). Beta-Adrenergic Regulation of the Cardiac Na+-K+ ATPase Mediated by Oxidative Signaling. Trends In Cardiovascular Medicine, 22(4), 83-87. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Fry, N., Karimi Galougahi, K., Rasmussen, H., Figtree, G. (2012). Glutathionylation of Erythrocyte Na-K Pump in Heart Failure: A Novel Biomarker That Reflects a Key Oxidative Abnormality In the Heart. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Not published: Not Published.
- Liu, C., Gebicki, J. (2012). Intracellular GSH and ascorbate inhibit radical-induced protein chain peroxidation in HL-60 cells. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 52(2), 420-426. [More Information]
2011
- Bibert, S., Liu, C., Figtree, G., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Marassi, F., Sweadner, K., Cornelius, F., Geering, K., Rasmussen, H. (2011). FXYD Proteins Reverse Inhibition of the Na+-K+ Pump Mediated by Glutathionylation of Its beta 1 Subunit. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(21), 18562-18572. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Cornelius, F., Clarke, R., Rasmussen, H. (2011). Oxidant-induced glutathionylation of Na+-K+ ATPase: dependent on the Conformational states? Na, K-ATPase and Related P-ATPase: Structure, Biology and Medicine Meeting 2011, Pacific Grove, California: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
2010
- White, C., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Chia, K., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2010). Activation of cAMP-dependent signaling induces oxidative modification of the cardiac Na+-K+ pump and inhibits its activity. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(18), 13712-13720. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Gebicki, J. (2010). Intracellular concentrations of GSH and ascorbate regulate the levels of oxidized proteins. Society for Free Radical Research (Australasia) 19th Annual Conference, Australia: Society for Free Radical Research.
- Karimi Galougahi, K., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2010). Orally administred metoprolol stimulates the cardiac Na+-K+ pump by decreasing baseline oxidative modification of its beta 1 pump subunit. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2010, Stockholm, Sweden: European Society of Cardiology.
2009
- White, C., Figtree, G., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Chia, K., Rasmussen, H. (2009). Angiotensin II inhibits the Na+-K+ pump via PKC-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase. American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, 296(4), C693-C700. [More Information]
- Liu, C., Figtree, G., Hamilton, E., Garcia, A., Chia, K., Rasmussen, H. (2009). Oxidative Modification of Caveolin 3-Protein Glutathionylation. Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine 16th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA: Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine.
- Figtree, G., Liu, C., Bibert, S., Hamilton, E., Garcia, A., White, C., Chia, K., Cornelius, F., Geering, K., Rasmussen, H. (2009). Reversible oxidative modification: A key mechanism of Na+-K + pump regulation. Circulation Research, 105(2), 185-193. [More Information]
2008
- White, C., Figtree, G., Liu, C., Garcia, A., Hamilton, E., Chia, K., Rasmussen, H. (2008). Angiotensin II inhibits the Na+-K+ pump via PKC independent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. 12th International ATPase Conference, Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University.
- Garcia, A., Bundgarrd, H., Hamilton, E., Liu, C., Chia, K., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2008). B3 adrenergic stimulation of Na+-K+ pump is mediated by NO-dependent deglutathionylation of the B1 pump subunit. 12th International ATPase Conference, Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University.
- Hamilton, E., Garcia, A., Chia, K., Liu, C., Figtree, G., Rasmussen, H. (2008). cGMP compartmentalization accounts for the bi-phasic effect of ANP on the Na+-K+ pump in rabbit cardiac myocytes. 12th International ATPase Conference, Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University.
Selected Grants
2016
- Treating pancreatic cancer with FXYD3 peptide analogues, Rasmussen H, Baxter R, Smith R, Liu C, Howell V, PanKind Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Ltd/Research support
2014
- Targeting Na,K-ATPase with FXYD3 peptide analogues in cancer treatment - prevention of cardiac side effectd, Liu C, DVC Research/Bridging Support Fellowship
In the media
- North Shore Times/Donor Care Newsletter
- Science & Medical 01/06/2017 www.medianet.com.au/releases/release-details/?id=880011