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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

Featured ArticleMarch 26, 2020
Social distancing in times of COVID-19, Part 1: What is it and why is it needed?
Social distancing is proven to help protect you from getting the virus and becoming sick. But what is social distancing, why do we need it, and how can we do it right?
Research HighlightMarch 20, 2020
JAX bites back at dog cancer, with surprising results!
Jackson Laboratory professor Dr. Roel Verhaak performed a study of cancer in dogs, looking for symptoms and cause of dog cancerous tumors on dogs, and in doing so, found some surprising connections to cancer in people.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer
Press ReleaseMarch 17, 2020
NSF CAREER award to Beth Dumont of JAX
Prestigious five-year grant funds evolutionary genomics research, educational outreach.
- Genetic Tools
- Genetics and Genomics
Search MagazineMarch 04, 2020
Overcoming breast cancer chemotherapy resistance
The National Cancer Institute has awarded Jackson Laboratory cancer researcher Gary Ren a five-year grant totaling $1,946,663 to study how chemotherapy-induced changes in the lung stroma foster the growth of metastatic breast tumor cells in the lung.

Featured ArticleMarch 26, 2020
Social Distancing in times of COVID-19, Part 2: What is the science behind the recommendations?
This series of articles is about the COVID-19 pandemic but specifically deals with social distancing: what is it, why do we need it, how to do it right. It is written by Edison Liu and Jill Goldthwait, who are both medical professionals who have broad governmental, scientific, and management experience.
Research HighlightMarch 18, 2020
Raising the bar for PDX model cancer research
The results of a new PDXNet consortium study provide a key validation toward translating xenograft findings into clinical treatments for cancer patients.
Press ReleaseMarch 10, 2020
Sheng Li named an AACR NextGen Star
Jackson Laboratory (JAX) Assistant Professor Sheng Li, Ph.D., was chosen as a 2020 NextGen Star by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). She is one of 12 early-career cancer researchers recognized for their outstanding work and future potential.
Blog PostMarch 04, 2020
Building in silico research models to accelerate discovery
Machine learning and deep learning in particular have a growing influence on everything from how we shop to how we drive—or are driven by self-driving cars. Anshul Kundaje, Ph.D., assistant professor of genetics and computer science at Stanford University, is using similar tools to study large-scale computational regulatory genomics.