Changchun Liu, Ph.D.

Research Summary:

Paradigm shifts in biomedical fields often arise from interdisciplinary innovations in tools and measurement methods. Our research group is interested in applying interdisciplinary approaches to develop new tools and methods to solve current challenges in biomedical fields, such as disease diagnostics, medical therapeutics, as well as personalized medicine. Our current research focuses on the integration of micro- and nanotechnology with biology and medicine, and their biomedical applications.

Our research philosophy is “Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovation (I³)”. On the one hand, we apply advanced biochemical approaches (e.g., CRISPR technology, synthetic biology) to investigate novel bioanalytical and clinical research strategies (e.g., Xiong Ding et al., Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 4711). On the other hand, we adapt our new biomedical research findings to microfluidic technology and develop next-generation medical devices/systems for disease diagnostics and therapeutics (e.g., Kun Yin et al., Theranostics, 2019, 9, 2637-2645).

We are a diverse team of scientists & engineers with broad expertise spanning molecular biology, CRISPR technology, synthetic biology, and chemistry to engineering (e.g., biomedical, mechanical, electronic). We have developed a number of innovative biomedical approaches and medical devices/systems for disease diagnostics and treatment (e.g., COVID-19, HIV virus, Zika virus, early cancer screening).

People are the engine and driving force of innovations in our research projects. We always seek highly talented and motivated individuals (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc) from different disciplinary backgrounds (e.g., biology, chemistry, biomedicine, and engineering (e.g., biomedical, mechanical, electronic, material)). We welcome inquiries about positions with a cover letter and curriculum vitae by contacting Dr. Changchun Liu via email (chaliu@uchc.edu).

Details on our research projects can be found at our research lab website below: https://smds.engr.uconn.edu

Honors and Awards：

W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Award, 2016

Penn One Health Award, 2015

NIH Career Development Award (K25), 2012-2017

Selected Publications:

Google Scholar Citations Link

1. Xiong Ding, Kun Yin, Ziyue Li, Rajesh V. Lalla, Enrique Ballesteros, Maroun M. Sfeir, Changchun Liu*, “Ultrasensitive and visual detection of SARS-CoV-2 using all-in-one dual CRISPR-Cas12a assay”, Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 4711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18575-6. (Featured by Henry Stewart Talks, Technology Networks, and UConn Today)
2. Kun Yin, Xiong Ding, Ziyue Li, Hui Zhao, Kumarasen Cooper, Changchun Liu*, “Dynamic aqueous multiphase reaction system for one-pot CRISPR-Cas12a based ultrasensitive and quantitative molecular diagnosis”, Analytical chemistry, 2020, 92, 12, 8561–8568.
3. Xiong Ding, Zhiheng Xu, Kun Yin, Maroun Sfeir and Changchun Liu*, “Dual-Priming Isothermal Amplification (DAMP) for Highly Sensitive and Specific Molecular Detection with Ultralow Nonspecific Signals”, Analytical chemistry, 2019, 91, 20, 12852–12858.
4. Kun Yin, Vikram Pandian, Karteek Kadimisetty, Carlos Ruiz, Kumarasen Cooper, Jianxin You, and Changchun Liu*, “Synergistically enhanced colorimetric molecular detection using smart cup: a case for instrument-free HPV-associated cancer screening”, Theranostics, 2019, 9, 2637-2645.
5. Karteek Kadimisetty, Jinzhao Song, Aoife M. Doto, Young Hwang, Jing Peng, Michael G. Mauk, Frederic D. Bushman, Robert Gross, Joseph N. Jarvis and Changchun Liu*, “Fully 3D Printed Integrated Reactor Array for Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostics”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2018, 109, 156-163
6. Song, Jinzhao, Michael G. Mauk, Brent A. Hackett, Sara Cherry, Haim H. Bau, and Changchun Liu*, “Instrument-Free Point-of-Care Molecular Detection of Zika Virus”, Analytical Chemistry, 2016, 88, 7289-7294 (Featured by The Scientist, ACS Chemical & Engineering NEWS, and Penn Today)

* Corresponding author