Chen Liu, Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Associate Professor School Medical School Department Internal Medicine | Neuroscience Graduate Programs Neuroscience Biography Download Curriculum Vitae Chen Liu, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Center for Hypothalamic Research. Dr. Liu holds a secondary appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience. Dr. Liu received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and a Doctoral Excellence Award from Case Western Reserve University where he studied the transcriptional control of brain serotonin (5-HT) neuron development and 5-HT-related mood disorders. After studying the neurons that produce 5-HT, he went on to explore the neural pathways that mediate the physiological actions of 5-HT. Supported by a fellowship from the Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation, his postdoctoral research focused on 5-HT circuits that regulate food intake and glucose balance. Dr. Liu joined the faculty of UT Southwestern in 2015. Research Interest Antipsychotic drug induced metabolic syndrome Brain-body communication Human developmental disorders Publications Featured Publications Orthopedia regulates melanocortin 4 receptor transcription and energy homeostasis. Xu B, Lawler K, Wyler SC, Li L, SwatiKeogh JM, Chen X, Wan R, Almeida AG, Kirsch S, Mountjoy KG, Elmquist JK, Farooqi IS, Liu C, Sci Transl Med 2025 Jan 17 781 eadr6459 Sample enrichment for single-nucleus sequencing using concanavalin A-conjugated magnetic beads. Li L, Xu B, Liu C, STAR Protoc 2023 Sep 4 4 102595 Delineating a serotonin 1B receptor circuit for appetite suppression in mice. Li L, Wyler SC, León-Mercado LA, Xu B, Oh Y, SwatiChen X, Wan R, Arnold AG, Jia L, Wang G, Nautiyal K, Hen R, Sohn JW, Liu C, J Exp Med 2022 Aug 219 8 Gai/o-coupled Htr2c in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus antagonizes the anorectic effect of serotonin agents. Yoo ES, Li L, Jia L, Lord CC, Lee CE, Birnbaum SG, Vianna CR, Berglund ED, Cunningham KA, Xu Y, Sohn JW, Liu C, Cell Rep 2021 Nov 37 7 109997 The atypical antipsychotic risperidone targets hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptors to cause weight gain. Li L, Yoo ES, Li X, Wyler SC, Chen X, Wan R, Arnold AG, Birnbaum SG, Jia L, Sohn JW, Liu C, J Exp Med 2021 Jul 218 7 Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Developing Melanocortin Neurons Reveal New Regulators for the Anorexigenic Neuron Identity. Chen X, Wyler SC, Li L, Arnold AG, Wan R, Jia L, Landy MA, Lai HC, Xu P, Liu C, J. Neurosci. 2020 Apr 40 16 3165-3177 A neural basis for tonic suppression of sodium appetite. Park S, Williams KW, Liu C, Sohn JW, Nat. Neurosci. 2020 Jan The atypical antipsychotic olanzapine causes weight gain by targeting serotonin receptor 2C. Lord CC, Wyler SC, Wan R, Castorena CM, Ahmed N, Mathew D, Lee S, Liu C, Elmquist JK J. Clin. Invest. 2017 Aug PPARgamma in vagal neurons regulates high-fat diet induced thermogenesis. Liu C, Bookout AL, Lee S, Sun K, Jia L, Lee C, Udit S, Deng Y, Scherer PE, Mangelsdorf DJ, Gautron L, Elmquist JK. Cell Metab. 2014 19 4 722-30 Serotonin 2C receptors in pro-opiomelanocortin neurons regulate energy and glucose homeostasis. Berglund ED, Liu C, Sohn JW, Liu T, Kim MH, Lee CE, Vianna CR, Williams KW, Xu Y, Elmquist JK J. Clin. Invest. 2013 Dec 123 12 5061-70 Results 1-10 of 34 1 2 3 4 Next Last Honors & Awards Junior Investigator AwardChinese American Diabetes Association (2022) Grossman Award for Excellence in Diabetes Research (2018) Scientist Development AwardAmerican Heart Association (2016) Doctoral Excellence AwardCase Western Reserve University (2011) Fellowship AwardDavis Foundation in Eating Disorder Research (2011) The President's AwardCase Western Reserve University (2008) Professional Associations/Affiliations American Diabetes Association (2023) American Heart Association (2013) International Society for Serotonin Research (2023) Society for Neuroscience (2008)
