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Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it.
--- Albert Einstein
Research Goals
We focus on using a comprehensive approach that is composed of genetics, bioinformatics, genomics, cellular and animal models to identify the molecular mechanisms of major psychiatric diseases, particularly bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as well as related human psychological behavioral traits. Constructing multidimensional regulatory network in human brains, and relating that to etiology and pathology of mental illness is the major mission of this lab.
Core hypothesis:
Many genes and their variations work in a system, under the influence of environment, determine human brain structure, functions, human behavior and related illnesses.
Major Projects:
Gene expression regulatory network (GERN) in human brains and its relevance to mental illnesses;
Mapping and functional dissection of genetic and epigenetic variants in human brains and associated psychiatric disorders and behavioral traits;
Bioinformatics: develop software/databases to support high-throughput data analysis and integration of multidimensional genomic / eipgenomic / genetic / phenotypic data.
Other related projects:
Discovery of novel genes in human brain; spatiotemporal dynamics of gene expression and epigenetic marks in human brain and subtypes of cells; regulatory functions of transcription factors, non-coding RNAs and DNA methylation; protein complexes in human brain; sexually dimorphic regulation; Immune and neural activities related to disorders and treatment responses.
Current Funded Grants:
NIMH PsychEncode U01. MH116489 (PI: Kevin P. White) 2/2 Discovery and validation of neuronal enhancers associated with the development of psychiatric disorders.
NIMH PsychENCODE U01 MH122591-01 (Co-PI: Chunyu Liu) 1/3 High-resolution mapping of cell type-specific DNA (hydroxy)methylation in the human brain during postnatal development and in psychiatric disease
New York State Empire Innovation Program.
Past Grants:
NIMH 1R01MH110920-01 (MPI: Chunyu Liu (Contact), Kevin P. White) 07/01/2016 - 06/30/2020
1/2 Measuring translational dynamics and the proteome to identify potential brain biomarkers for psychiatric disease
NIMH U01 MH103340-01 (MPIs: Chunyu Liu (Contact), Kevin White) 06/31/2017
Genetic variants affect brain gene expression and risks of psychiatric disorders
NIA 1R21AG045789-01A1 (MPIs: Elliot Gershon (Contact), Chunyu Liu, Geoff Faulkner) 07/01/2014 - 06/30/2017
Somatic Mutations in Brain in Alzheimer's Disease
NIEHS 1R01ES024988 (PI: Chunyu Liu) 10/01/2014 – 09/30/2017
Integrating epigenomic maps to predict regulatory functions of genetic variants
NIH R01 MH080425-01 (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2007- 2012
The Genetic and Genomic Study of MicroRNA in Bipolar and Schizophrenia,
NIH R33 MH083521 (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2010- 2012
A Human-Specific Gene (G72/G30) in Transgenic Mice,
NIH R21 MH083521-01 (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2008- 2010
A Human-Specific Gene (G72/G30) in Transgenic Mice,
Brain Research Foundation Research Seed Grant (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2008- 2009
Genetic Mapping of DNA Methylation Regulators in Human Cerebellum,
Brain Research Foundation Research Seed Grant (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2006- 2007
Identification of Cis-regulatory Elements for Genes Expressed in Human Brain,
Brain Research Foundation Research Seed Grant (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2005- 2006
Neurogenesis and Plasticity in Bipolar Disorder,
NARSAD Young Investigator Award (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2004- 2006
Systematic Association Study of Candidate Genes in Bipolar Disorder,
NARSAD Young Investigator Award (PI: Chunyu Liu) 2001- 2003
Mutation Screening and Linkage Disequilibrium Analysis of Bipolar Disorder on 13q32
