I am a junior postdoctoral research officer in SVI’s DNA Damage & Cancer Therapy laboratory. I completed my PhD at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2021, working on the identification of a new regulator for the development and remodelling of lymphatic vessels in cancer. I developed a strong interest in cancer research with various techniques during my PhD study.

My current focus is ovarian cancer, a leading cause of death among women. Our lab has developed a first-in-class drug, which could activate nucleolar stress and induce a targeted DNA damage response (DDR), leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation as an alternative to chemotherapy. I am investigating the mechanisms of nucleolar stress and DNA damage, with the goal of characterising the molecular response to our target drug, as well as identifying other potential therapeutic targets. I am comparing the response to our target drug with chemotherapeutics widely used in the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Key achievements

2022-2024   SVI Rising Star Fellowship

2016-2021   Melbourne Graduate Scholarship (Education) – International Students

2013   Excellent Graduation Thesis/Project (top 4%), Northwestern Polytechnical University (China)

2011-2012   First-class (top 2%) Scholarship for undergraduate student, Northwestern Polytechnical University (China)

DNA Damage & Cancer Therapy

We are developing new therapeutic approaches to target drug resistance in ovarian cancer and in the blood cancer multiple myeloma.

Lab head: Associate Professor Elaine Sanij

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Selected publications

V Arcucci, M Ishaq, S Roufail, BK Dredge, AG Bert, E Hackett-Jones, R Liu., et al. The microRNA miR-132 is a key regulator of lymphatic vascular remodelling.” bioRxiv (2021).

M. He, M. Harford, R. Liu., et al. Three-dimensional CRISPR screening reveals epigenetic interaction with anti-angiogenic therapy. Communications Biology 4.1 (2021): 1-15.

D. Zhao, R. Liu, et al. Connexin 43 channels in osteocytes regulate bone responses to mechanical unloading. Fontiers in Physiology, 11 (2020): 299.

S. Williams, AF. Odell, T. Karnezis, R. Farnsworth, CM. Gould, J. Li, S. Paquet-Fifield, NC. Harris, A. Walter, JL. Gregory, S. Lamont, R. Liu., et al. Genome-wide functional analysis reveals central signaling regulators of lymphatic endothelial cell migration and remodelling. Science Signaling, 10.499 (2017): eaal2987.

H. Xu, R. Liu., et al. Biological responses of osteocytic connexin 43 hemichannels to simulated microgravity. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 35.6 (2017): 1196-1202.

H. Xu, J. Duan, D. Ning, J. Li, R. Liu., et, al. The role of Wnt signaling in fracture healing. BMB reports 27.12 (2014): 666.

ORCID profile: 0000-0003-1626-6041