Aijia Jessica LIU, 劉艾佳

A complex gene regulatory network orchestrates the establishment of Peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous systems (CNS) during embryogenesis, particularly in controlling the formation, proliferation, migration of multipotent progenitors and the decision between neuronal and glial fate acquisition. Consequently, dysregulation of gene batteries leads to variety of neurological disorders. Our laboratory is focusing on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain which is induced by central/peripheral nerve injury or diseases. We are leveraging the power of clinical associated study, stem cell biology, somatic cell reprogramming, omics based metabolic and single-cell technologies to unravel the pain signaling for identifying therapeutic targets and explore alternative approaches for nerve repairs and regeneration. Our laboratory is also interested in studying the cell signaling in determining the neuronal- glial cell fate during PNS development. We use chicken/mouse animal model and organoids derived from human cells to understand their functions in normal developmental process and human congenital disorders. We have further expanded research interests in elucidating the disease mechanism of the neuronal-glial interaction in spinal cord muscular atrophy using patients’ somatic cells derived human pluripotent stem cells and mouse model.

[2026] Liu, J. (Co-first Author), Meng, F. (Co-first Author), Liao, B., Gu, C. K. Y., Liu, A. J., Jiao, Y. & Wong, S. S. C., 15 Nov 2026, A short-term high-fat diet induced acute postoperative pain priming through impairing SerpinB6 protein-mediated M2 macrophage polarization, Neuropharmacology, 299, 111105. [2026] Feng, X., Wan, Y., Peng, M., Cheung, Y.-T., Lin, Z., Tam, K.-W., Fan, C., Yang, Y., Zhan, D., Zhu, H., Yu, Y., Wang, X., Liu, Q., Zhu, X., Chan, Y.-S., Cheung, M., Cheung, C.-W. & Liu, J. A., Mar 2026, Efficient generation of human dorsal spinal GABAergic progenitors for the treatment of spinal cord injury, Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 58, 3, p. 832-847. [2026] ZHAN, D., FAN, C., CHAN, S. & LIU, A. J., 8 Jul 2026, iPSCs-derived microglia contribute to neuromuscular organ