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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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Contact me at: 207-288-6000

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Contact Edison T. Liu, M.D.

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

Next-generation sequencing studies have revealed genome-wide structural variation patterns in cancer, such as chromothripsis and chromoplexy, that do not engage a single discernable driver mutation, and whose clinical relevance is unclear. We devised a robust genomic metric able to identify cancers with a chromotype called tandem duplicator phenotype (TDP) characterized by frequent and distributed tandem duplications (TDs). Enriched only in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and in ovarian, endometrial, and liver cancers, TDP tumors conjointly exhibit tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutations, disruption of breast cancer 1 (BRCA1), and increased expression of DNA replication genes pointing at rereplication in a defective checkpoint environment as a plausible causal mechanism. The resultant TDs in TDP augment global oncogene expression and disrupt tumor suppressor genes. Importantly, the TDP strongly correlates with cisplatin sensitivity in both TNBC cell lines and primary patient-derived xenografts. We conclude that the TDP is a common cancer chromotype that coordinately alters oncogene/tumor suppressor expression with potential as a marker for chemotherapeutic response.

Tech CornerFebruary 01, 2021
New coronavirus variants spark concerns
Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 are generating viral variants that change the properties of the virus and affect the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tech CornerFebruary 01, 2021
Machine learning: Shining a light on genomic function
Machine learning platforms can be fed data to "teach" them to learn patterns and predict outcomes, and they are becoming more important all the time in biomedical research. But what are they? How do they work? And can we peer into the black box of their inner functions to make them more powerful for prediction and discovery?
Research HighlightJanuary 18, 2021
JAX uses genetic models to fight CUP
A JAX team developed CUP-AI-Dx, a machine learning tool that uses RNA sequence data for analysis. The researchers show that CUP-AI-Dx provides an important clinical tool to help guide therapies for CUP patients.
Research HighlightJanuary 07, 2021
JAX scientist analyzes PDX models
PDX models provide researchers with the ability to work with tumors directly from patients within a living (in vivo) system, making them a preeminent platform for preclinical cancer research.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer

Research HighlightFebruary 01, 2021
Novel antibody tests reveal complexity of immune response to covid-19
The interaction of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the human immune system has been the focus of intensive research.
Blog PostJanuary 20, 2021
Advancing Humanized NSGTM Mice for Immuno-Oncology Testing
Immunologically humanized NSGTM and its variant strains are a powerful system that facilitates cutting-edge in vivo preclinical testing of a wide range of immuno-oncology therapeutic candidates.
Research HighlightJanuary 12, 2021
Few mutations, important difference in cancer cells
JAX Professor Sheng Li, Ph.D., presents a tool, epihet, that automates the epigenetic analysis of AML cells. epihet allows researchers to assess epigenetic differences between cells, identify genomic locations where the differences occur, and associate cellular epigenetic profiles with cancer-related biological function.
Press ReleaseJanuary 07, 2021
Using the mouse model to fight against heart attacks
British Heart Foundation funds research aimed at supporting the lymphatic system to prevent heart failure.