Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Ph.D.
Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Ho-Ling Anthony Liu
Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Imaging Physics. Dr. Liu has more than 20 years of experience in advanced neuroimaging. His research interest is on development of perfusion and functional MRI methods for management of neurological diseases. He has been collaborating with clinicians and scientists in radiology, psychology and neuroscience, and serving as a PI or a co-investigator in research grants. He has authored over 100 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, lectured and chaired at national and international conferences and held symposia and hands-on workshops in related fields. Dr. Liu’s current research directions include quantitative MRI for characterizing tumor microenvironment and precise functional localization with pre-surgical functional MRI.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Faculty Member, Department of Medical Physics Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
The focus of his research is to develop and optimize advanced MR neuroimaging methods for improving diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation of early treatment response of tumors. Two specific directions are:
1. Quantitative MRI for characterizing tumor microenvironment: this includes the quantitation of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI for characterizing tumor angiogenesis, and the characterization of microvascular properties such as vessel caliber and vessel reactivity using MRI methods.
2. Advanced MRI for pre-surgical planning and intra-operative evaluation: this includes advanced functional MRI acquisition/processing strategy and the study of neurovascular coupling of brain activation adjacent to tumors for pre-surgical planning, and the incorporation of functional/physiological imaging for the intra-operative evaluation.
Clinical Interests
Advanced brain tumor imaging | Pre-surgical functional MRI and diffusion MR tractography | Optimization of MRI sequences for neurological applications
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2000 | University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, US, Medical Physics, Ph.D |
| 1994 | National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, TW, Nuclear Science, M.S |
| 1992 | National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, TW, Physics, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2004-2005 | Resident, Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (MR Safety Expert) |
| 2004 | American Board of Radiology (Diagnostic Medical Physics) with MOC |
Professional Memberships
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Advancing connectomics-based prediction of postoperative neurocognitive outcome in patients with eloquent glioma |
| Funding Source: | MDACC IRG |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2023 - 2023 |
| Title: | Project 1: Co-Development of Standardized MR Protocol Set |
| Funding Source: | Siemens Healthcare |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | A Virtually Delivered Exercise Intervention To Mitigate Cognitive Deficits From Radiotherapy In AYAs With Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | MDACC |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Mentor |
| ID: | 5T32CA196561-08 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | A Comprehensive Clinical fMRI Software Solution to Enable Mapping of Critical Functional Networks and Cerebrovascular Reactivity in the Brain |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 5R01CA257788-04 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2025 |
| Title: | Multi-Parametric MRI Assessment of Brain Connectivity and Spectroscopic Biomarkers in Patients with a Substance Use Disorder |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDA |
| Role: | Co-Mentor |
| ID: | 5K23DA049216-05 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | A pilot study to determine the brain and cognitive effects of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with melanoma as well as the association of this neurotoxicity with changes in cytokines and the fecal microbiome |
| Funding Source: | MDACC IRG |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2021 |
| Title: | Transforming the Standard of Care: A Personalized Approach for Patients with Cancer Metastatic to the Brain |
| Funding Source: | Brockman Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2020 |
| Title: | Functional sequelae of variable radiation dose exposure to network hubs in brain connectomes |
| Funding Source: | MDACC CCSG Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2017 - 2020 |
| Title: | Language Mapping, Neurocognitive Functioning, and Quality of Life in Patients with Glioma |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Cancer Survivorship Research Seed Grant |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2016 - 2021 |
| Title: | Resting-state Functional MRI in Glioma Patients Before and After Surgery |
| Funding Source: | MDACC DICRC |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2019 |
| Title: | The TMC Regenerative Medicine Studies MSC Brain Trial |
| Funding Source: | TMC/MDACC |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | RCTS#2016-00051921-Y1 |
| Date: | 2015 - 2016 |
| Title: | Functional and structural connectome analysis in a mouse model of chemobrain to guide studies on molecular and cellular underpinnings |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Institutional Research Grant |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2013 - 2015 |
| Title: | Evaluation of vasoreactivity and functional network in patients with carotid artery stenosis/occlusion by using advanced MRI |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | NSC103-2314-B-182A-026 |
| Date: | 2013 - 2015 |
| Title: | Applications of hemodynamic MRI examinations in pediatric patients with brain tumors |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | NSC1032314-B-182A008 |
| Date: | 2013 - 2015 |
| Title: | Effects of aging and diabetics on brain perfusion and functional connectivity: Arterial spin labeling and resting-state functional MRI analysis |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | NSC103-221-E-303-004 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2014 |
| Title: | Evaluation of clinical feasibility of quantitative MR perfusion imaging and its calibration |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC101-2314-B-182-063-MY3 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2015 |
| Title: | Neuropsychological and neuroimaging study on cognitive functioning of people with neurological or psychiatric disorders |
| Funding Source: | The University of Hong Kong |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2010 - 2012 |
| Title: | Functional magnetic resonance imaging indices as predictors of cerebral perfusion and functional changes after carotid intervention |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC99-2628-B-182-028-MY2 |
| Date: | 2010 - 2013 |
| Title: | The clinical analysis and electrophysiological evaluation in Parkinson's disease with and without dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | NSC99-2314-B-182A-064-MY3 |
| Date: | 2010 - 2013 |
| Title: | The protective effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ treatment against cerebral ischemia: correlation with molecular and magnetic resonance imaging study |
| Funding Source: | National Science |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | NSC99-2314-B-182A-043-MY3 |
| Date: | 2009 - 2011 |
| Title: | Survey and quality assurance program of medical exposures from mammography and x-ray computed tomography in Taiwan |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council/Atomic Energy Council, Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC98-2623-E-182 -002 -NU |
| Date: | 2008 - 2010 |
| Title: | Development of clinical MRI methods for assessment of micro-vessel conditions of brain tumors |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC97-2314-B-182-030-MY2 |
| Date: | 2008 - 2008 |
| Title: | Establish the certification program for quality assurance of medical exposure from mammography in Taiwan |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council/ Atomic Energy Council, Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC97-2623-7-182 -002 -NU |
| Date: | 2006 - 2008 |
| Title: | Temporal Properties of Diffusion-weighted, Vascular Occupancy and Magnetic-source Functional MRI at High Field |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC95-2314-B-182-066-MY2 |
| Date: | 2004 - 2006 |
| Title: | Development of New fMRI Techniques as Applied in the Timing Studies of Neuronal Activation |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC93-2314-B-182-031 |
| Date: | 2002 - 2005 |
| Title: | Deception and Its Detection: Brain Activities Associated with Faking Memory Problems |
| Funding Source: | Hong Kong University |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2001 - 2004 |
| Title: | Temporal Mapping of Human Brain Response Using Functional MRI |
| Funding Source: | National Science Council of Taiwan |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NSC90-2314-B-182-094 |
| Date: | 2000 - 2001 |
| Title: | Reading Chinese and English by Bilinguals: Studies Using fMRI Techniques |
| Funding Source: | Hong Kong University |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Teo JM, Kumar VA, Lee J, Eldaya RW, Hou P, Jen ML, Noll KR, Wei P, Ferguson SD, Prabhu SS, Wintermark M, Liu HL. Probabilistic Presurgical Language Functional MRI Atlas of Brain Tumor Patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38889968.
- Lin C, Huang CM, Chang W, Chang YX, Liu HL, Ng SH, Lin HL, Lee TM, Lee SH, Wu SC. Predicting suicidality in late-life depression by 3D convolutional neural network and cross-sample entropy analysis of resting-state fMRI. Brain Behav 14(1):e3348, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38376042.
- Lin C, Lee SH, Huang CM, Wu YW, Chang YX, Liu HL, Ng SH, Cheng YC, Chiu CC, Wu SC. Cognitive protection and brain entropy changes from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplement in late-life depression: A 52-week randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord 351:15-23, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38281596.
- Lee J, Kumar VA, Teo JM, Eldaya RW, Hou P, Noll KR, Ferguson SD, Prabhu SS, Liu HL. Comparative analysis of brain language templates with primary language areas detected from presurgical fMRI of brain tumor patients. Brain Behav 14(6):e3497, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38898620.
- Noll KR, Asman P, Tasnim I, Hall M, Connelly K, Swamy C, Ene C, Tummala S, Grasu RM, Liu HL, Kumar VA, Muir M, Prinsloo S, Michener H, Wefel JS, Ince NF, Prabhu SS. Intraoperative language mapping guided by real-time visualization of gamma band modulation electrocorticograms: Case report and proof of concept. Neurooncol Pract 11(1):92-100, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38222047.
- Dagher SA, Liu HL, Ozkara BB, Calle S, Kaya D, Gule-Monroe MK, Chasen NN, Schellingerhout D, Learned KO, Shah KB, Johnson JM, Sun J, Schomer DF, Kumar VA, Wintermark M, Majd NK, Nam JY, Chen MM. The Impact of MRI-Based Advanced Neuroimaging on Neurooncologists' Clinical Decision-Making in Patients With Posttreatment High-Grade Glioma: A Prospective Survey-Based Study. AJR Am J Roentgenol. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39140632.
- Kumar VA, Lee J, Liu HL, Allen JW, Filippi CG, Holodny AI, Hsu K, Jain R, McAndrews MP, Peck KK, Shah G, Shimony JS, Singh S, Zeineh M, Tanabe J, Vachha B, Vossough A, Welker K, Whitlow C, Wintermark M, Zaharchuk G, Sair HI. Recommended Resting-State fMRI Acquisition and Preprocessing Steps for Preoperative Mapping of Language and Motor and Visual Areas in Adult and Pediatric Patients with Brain Tumors and Epilepsy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38164572.
- Young AL, Kundu S, Tappa KK, Hou P, Liu HL, Kumar VA. Incidence of resting-state functional connectivity to secondary language areas and contralateral language areas in patients with brain tumors. Neuroradiol J:19714009231196471. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37596790.
- Lin C, Lee SH, Huang CM, Chen GY, Chang W, Liu HL, Ng SH, Lee TM, Wu SC. Automatic diagnosis of late-life depression by 3D convolutional neural networks and cross-sample Entropy analysis from resting-state fMRI. Brain Imaging Behavior, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36418676.
- Liu, Z, Wong, NM, Shao, R, Lee, SH, Huang, CM, Liu, HA, Lin, C, Lee, TM. Classification of Major Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning on brain structure and functional connectivity. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 10, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Yeh MY, Chen HS, Hou P, Kumar VA, Johnson JM, Noll KR, Prabhu SS, Ferguson SD, Schomer DF, Peng HH, Liu HL. Cerebrovascular Reactivity Mapping Using Resting-State Functional MRI in Patients With Gliomas. J Magn Reson Imaging 56(6):1863-1871, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35396789.
- Shao R, Gao M, Lin C, Huang CM, Liu HL, Toh CH, Wu C, Tsai YF, Qi D, Lee SH, Lee TMC. Multimodal Neural Evidence on the Corticostriatal Underpinning of Suicidality in Late-Life Depression. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 7(9):905-915, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34861420.
- Chan PS, Cheng CH, Wu YT, Wu CW, Hsu AL, Liu CY, Liu HL, Davenport PW. Neural substrates of respiratory sensory gating: A human fMRI study. Biol Psychol 169:108277, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35077848.
- Muir M, Patel R, Traylor J, de Almeida Bastos DC, Prinsloo S, Liu HL, Noll K, Wefel J, Tummala S, Kumar V, Prabhu S. Validation of Non-invasive Language Mapping Modalities for Eloquent Tumor Resection: A Pilot Study. Front Neurosci 16:833073, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35299624.
- Siu HC, Lee SH, Au JS, Lo AP, Huang CM, Tsai YF, Lee TM, Liu HL, Lin C, Chiu CD. Loneliness and Major Depressive Disorder in the Elderly with a History of Suicidal Ideation or Attempt: A Comment on "Therapist-Guided Internet-Based Treatments for Loneliness" by Käll et al. Psychother Psychosom 91(2):142-144, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34915527.
- Chang, TY, Wu, HH, Li, YJ, Liu, HA, Yeh, CH, Jian, HS, Huang, KL, Lee, TH, Tian, YC, Wu, CW. Changes of Brain Functional Connectivity in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis Without Cognitive Decline. Frontiers in Medicine 8, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34901056.
- Johnson, JM, Chen, MM, Rohren, E, Prabhu, SS, Chasen, B, Mawlawi, O, Liu, HA, Gule-Monroe, MK. Delayed FDG PET Provides Superior Glioblastoma Conspicuity Compared to Conventional Image Timing. Frontiers in Neurology 12, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34867723.
- Johnson JM, Chen MM, Rohren EM, Prabhu SS, Chasen B, Mawlawi O, Liu HL, Gule-Monroe MK. Delayed FDG PET Provides Superior Glioblastoma Conspicuity Compared to Conventional Image Timing. Frontiers in Neurology, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Yang, TT, Hsung, RM, Chen, SH, Du, YR, Lin, YJ, Yen, NS, Wu, CT, Liu, HA. The mechanisms of trust formation under different conditions of political identity. Current Sociology 69(6):879-899, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Chen HS, Jen ML, Hou P, Stafford RJ, Liu HL. A dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI digital reference object for testing software with leakage correction: Effect of background simulation. Med Phys 48(10):6051-6059, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34293208.
- Chen HS, Kumar VA, Johnson JM, Chen MM, Noll KR, Hou P, Prabhu SS, Schomer DF, Liu HL. Effect of brain normalization methods on the construction of functional connectomes from resting-state functional MRI in patients with gliomas. Magn Reson Med 86(1):487-498, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33533052.
- Lin C, Huang CM, Karim HT, Liu HL, Lee TM, Wu CW, Toh CH, Tsai YF, Yen TH, Lee SH. Greater white matter hyperintensities and the association with executive function in suicide attempters with late-life depression. Neurobiol Aging 103:60-67, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33845397.
- Noll KR, Chen HS, Wefel JS, Kumar VA, Hou P, Ferguson SD, Rao G, Johnson JM, Schomer DF, Suki D, Prabhu SS, Liu HL. Alterations in Functional Connectomics Associated With Neurocognitive Changes Following Glioma Resection. Neurosurgery 88(3):544-551, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33080024.
- Zhong L, Li T, Shu H, Huang C, Michael Johnson J, Schomer DF, Liu HL, Feng Q, Yang W, Zhu H. (TS)2WM: Tumor Segmentation and Tract Statistics for Assessing White Matter Integrity with Applications to Glioblastoma Patients. Neuroimage 223:117368. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32931941.
- Gao M, Shao R, Huang CM, Liu HL, Chen YL, Lee SH, Lin C, Lee TMC. The relationship between loneliness and working-memory-related frontoparietal network connectivity in people with major depressive disorder. Behav Brain Res, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Hsu AL, Chen HS, Hou P, Wu CW, Johnson JM, Noll KR, Prabhu SS, Ferguson SD, Kumar VA, Schomer DF, Chen JH, Liu HL. Presurgical resting-state functional MRI language mapping with seed selection guided by regional homogeneity. Magn Reson Med 84(1):375-383, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31793025.
- Kumar VA, Heiba IM, Prabhu SS, Chen MM, Colen RR, Young AL, Johnson JM, Hou P, Noll K, Ferguson SD, Rao G, Lang FF, Schomer DF, Liu HL. The role of resting-state functional MRI for clinical preoperative language mapping. Cancer Imaging 20(1):47, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32653026.
- Quirarte JA, Kumar VA, Liu HL, Noll KR, Wefel JS, Lang FF. Language supplementary motor area syndrome correlated with dynamic changes in perioperative task-based functional MRI activations: case report. J Neurosurg:1-5. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32502992.
- Shao R, Liu HL, Huang CM, Chen YL, Gao M, Lee SH, Lin C, Lee TMC. Loneliness and depression dissociated on parietal-centered networks in cognitive and resting states. Psychol Med:1-11. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31615593.
- Huang CM, Fan YT, Lee SH, Liu HL, Chen YL, Lin C, Lee TMC. Cognitive reserve-mediated neural modulation of emotional control and regulation in people with late-life depression. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 14(8):849-860. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31603228.
- Fan YT, Lin KC, Liu HL, Chen YL, Wu CY. Changes in structural integrity are correlated with motor and functional recovery after post-stroke rehabilitation. Restor Neurol Neurosci. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26484696.
- Wong AM, Yeh CH, Liu HL, Lin KL, Wang HS, Toh CH. Arterial spin-labeling perfusion imaging of childhood meningitis: a case series. Childs Nerv Syst. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26248672.
Review Articles
- Lee J, Chen MM, Liu HL, Ucisik FE, Wintermark M, Kumar VA. MR Perfusion Imaging for Gliomas. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 32(1):73-83, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38007284.
- Wong NML, STST M, Lin C, Huang CM, Liu HL, Lee SH, Lee TMC. Meta-analytic evidence for the cognitive control model of loneliness in emotion processing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 138:104686, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35537565.
Other Articles
- Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Long JP, Kumar VA, Shah K, Chen M, Stafford J, Chung C, Wintermark M, Hou P, Sura E, Wang C, Weinberg J, Liu HL Diagnostic Confidence of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted MRI for the Detection of Brain Metastases: 3D FSE-vs. 3D GRE-Based Sequences. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol.
- Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Long JP, Kumar VA, Shah K, Chen M, Stafford J, Chung C, Wintermark M, Hou P, Sura E, Wang C, Weinberg J, Liu HL Diagnostic Confidence of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted MRI for the Detection of Brain Metastases: 3D FSE-vs. 3D GRE-Based Sequences. ANJR. PMID: 39572196.
- Pan Y, Hong LE, Acheson A, Thompson PM, Jahanshad N, Zhu AH, Yu J, Chen C, Ma T, Liu HL A Site-Wise Reliability Analysis of the ABCD Diffusion Fractional Anisotropy and Cortical Thickness: Impact of Scanner Platforms. Hum Brain Mapp.
- Liu HA, Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Long JP, Kumar VA, Shah K, Chen M, Stafford J, Chung C, Wintermark M, Hou P, Sura E, Wang C, Weinberg J Diagnostic Confidence of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted MRI for the Detection of Brain Metastases: 3D FSE-vs. 3D GRE-Based Sequences. AJNR, 2024.
- Pan Y, Hong LE, Acheson A, Thompson PM, Jahanshad N, Zhu AH, Yu J, Chen C, Ma T, Liu HL, Veraart J, Fieremans E, Karcher NR, Kochunov P, Chen S A Site-Wise Reliability Analysis of the ABCD Diffusion Fractional Anisotropy and Cortical Thickness: Impact of Scanner Platforms.
- Liu HA, Pan Y, Hong LE, Acheson A, Thompson PM, Jahanshad N, Zhu AH, Yu J, Chen C, Ma T, Liu HL, Veraart J, Fieremans E, Karcher NR, Kochunov P, Chen S A Site-Wise Reliability Analysis of the ABCD Diffusion Fractional Anisotropy and Cortical Thickness: Impact of Scanner Platforms. ANJR.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 29, 2025