Professor Kai Liu-Cheng Professorship in Science
- cherryqylu
- Feb 18, 2019
- 1 min read
Prof Kai Liu has a laser-like focus on neuroscience, specifically on discovering ways to regenerate axons in damaged spinal cords. Spinal cord injury is one of the biggest medical challenges facing mankind, because unlike amphibians or fish, humans are incapable of regenerating damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord. It is estimated that tens of millions of people living with spinal cord injuries in the whole world. He is fascinated by the fact that our liver tissue can regenerate, but not the nerve cells in our ears, eyes and spinal cord.
Prof Liu is exploring ways of axon regeneration through stimulating neurons chemically and genetically. He says that usually neurons inside the brain do not die after spinal cord injury. If a way could be found to restore the spinal cord connection, its function in motor control and sensation could be restored. So far he has had very encouraging results from tests on lab mice, in which for the first time he was able to induce motor axon regeneration in the spinal cord from injuries that even took place 1 year ago. He sees the promise of the stimulation of neuronal activity, and is also actively looking for more powerful druggable targets. But, as optimistic as we can be, he cautions that we are still a long way from carrying out clinical trials for humans. Research scientists such as Prof Liu have a mountain to climb, though the glimmer of hope for paraplegics everywhere is within sight.
