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Edison T. Liu, M.D.

President, CEO

Conducts research focused on the functional genomics of breast cancer through an exploration of the entire genomic space.

The JAX Cancer Center

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About Edison T. Liu, M.D.

Dr. Liu is the president and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory. Previously, he was the founding executive director of the Genome Institute of Singapore (2001-2011), and was the president of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) from 2007-2013. Between 1997 and 2001, he was the scientific director of the National Cancer Institute's Division of Clinical Sciences in Bethesda, Md., where he was in charge of the intramural clinical translational science programs.

From 1987 to 1996, Dr. Liu was a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was the director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer; the director of the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology at UNC's School of Public Health; chief of Medical Genetics; and the chair of the Correlative Science Committee of the national cooperative clinical trials group, CALGB. Dr. Liu is an international expert in cancer biology, genomics, human genetics, molecular epidemiology and translational medicine.

Dr. Liu's own scientific research has focused on the functional genomics of human cancers, particularly breast cancer, uncovering new oncogenes, and deciphering on a genomic scale the dynamics of gene regulation that modulate cancer biology. He has authored over 300 scientific papers and reviews, and co-authored two books. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry and psychology, as well as his M.D., at Stanford University. He served his internship and residency at Washington University's Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, followed by an oncology fellowship at Stanford. From 1982 to 1987 he was at the University of California, San Francisco, at the G.W. Hooper Foundation.

Grants, honors and accomplishments

2014 April - 2014 Chen Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement in Human Genetic and Genomic Research (from the Human Genome Organization)

2013 January - Elected, Fellow of the Connecticut Academy of Sciences and Engineering

2010 October - Fellow of the Hastings Center (New York, Elected Membership)

2010-2013 - Re-elected - President, Human Genome Organization (HUGO)

2008 - Elected, Foreign Associate Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

July 2007 - Awarded Doctor of Medical Sciences honoris causa, Queen’s University, Belfast September

June 2007-2010 - Elected – President, Human Genome Organization (HUGO)

September 2003 - Public Service Medal (National Day, 2003): for work in controlling SARS in Singapore (given by the Office of the President, Republic of Singapore)

April 2000 - Rosenthal Award, AACR: for the discovery that HER-2 status determines response to adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin.

April 1999-2001 - Elected-Board of Directors, American Association for Cancer Research

October 1996 - 1996 Brinker International Award for Breast Cancer Research - Basic Research Award

July 1995 - American Society of Clinical Investigation (Elected Membership)

December 1991-November1996 - Leukemia Society Scholar

October 1990-1993 - Komen Foundation Award for Breast Cancer Research (funding fellow salary)

July 1990-June 1994 - Jefferson Pilot Award: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Junior Faculty Award for Research Excellence

July 1985-1988 - Clinical Investigator Award, National Cancer Institute, K08- CA01036-02, Preceptor: Dr. J. Michael Bishop.

September 1983-1985 - Damon Runyan Cancer Fund Fellowship Preceptor: Dr. J. Michael Bishop (UCSF)

July-September 1974 - Ford Foundation Fellowship for Intensive Studies in Chinese, Stanford University

June 1973 - Phi Beta Kappa, Stanford University

June-September 1972 - National Science Foundation Fellowship in Chemistry 1972. To study the photoconversion of aziridines to ethylene for its agriculture applications. Preceptor: Dr. J. D. White

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

Histone modifications are key regulators of chromatin function. However, little is known to what extent histone modifications can directly impact on chromatin. Here, we address how a modification within the globular domain of histones regulates chromatin function. We demonstrate that H3K122ac can be sufficient to stimulate transcription and that mutation of H3K122 impairs transcriptional activation, which we attribute to a direct effect of H3K122ac on histone-DNA binding. In line with this, we find that H3K122ac defines genome-wide genetic elements and chromatin features associated with active transcription. Furthermore, H3K122ac is catalyzed by the coactivators p300/CBP and can be induced by nuclear hormone receptor signaling. Collectively, this suggests that transcriptional regulators elicit their effects not only via signaling to histone tails but also via direct structural perturbation of nucleosomes by directing acetylation to their lateral surface.

View full list of publications

Research HighlightSeptember 20, 2019
An epigenetic eraser
The genome editing tool, Casilio, can be used to efficiently remove methyl groups from DNA and activate expression of methylation-silenced genes in experimental systems. Casilio was created by Jackson Laboratory Assistant Professor Albert Cheng.
Search MagazineSeptember 04, 2019
Computing the etiology of cancer
What if, much like screening through genetic testing, we could learn how to better treat individual patients through their unique epigenetic markers? This is the question that Assistant Professor Sheng Li, Ph.D. tackles in her lab every day.
Research HighlightAugust 21, 2019
New JAX-UConn computational tool
Online analysis tool, Protein-RNA Association Strength (PRAS), free for academic researchers.
- Neuroscience
- Cancer
Research HighlightAugust 14, 2019
JAX postdoc Frederick Varn secures Fellowship from Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund
JAX postdoctoral associate Frederick Varn, Ph.D., has received a prestigious fellowship from the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research.
- Gliomas-Glioblastomas
- Cancer

Blog PostSeptember 16, 2019
Immunotherapy - implications for patients with mismatch repair deficient tumors
Presence of MSI-H in a dMMR tumor is correlated with the formation of novel small proteins that are recognized by T cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Research HighlightAugust 21, 2019
The future of human and experimental genetics
This year, science luminaries came to Maine for an additional special symposium that celebrated the McKusick Short Course's 60th anniversary. The symposium title, “The Future of Human and Experimental Genetics,” foreshadowed the theme of the talks.
Research HighlightAugust 21, 2019
The long-term maintenance of sperm production in mammals
A research team led by Professor and Janeway Distinguished Chair Robert Braun, Ph.D., and Associate Research Scientist Manju Sharma, Ph.D., found a rare subpopulation of spermatogonial cells expressing a specific protein, EOMES, that appear to represent the elusive long-lived spermatogonial stem cells that support continued spermatogenesis.
Press ReleaseAugust 01, 2019
Preventing anaphylaxis
New research by JAX Assistant Professor Adam Williams, published in Science, points the way to more precise allergy testing as well as identifying new approaches for treating allergy.
- Immunology
- Genetics and Genomics