Tracy W. Liu, Ph.D.
Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Instructor, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN, PHD, Medical Biophysics |
| 2007 | University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CAN, BS, Honours Integrated Sciences |
Honors & Awards
| 2016 | Top 5 Award, Division of Diagnostic Imaging Trainee Research Symposium MDACC |
| 2014 | 2nd Place Best Paper Award, Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America |
| 2013 | Breast Cancer Research Program Highlight, Department of Defense |
| 2012 | Best PhD Oral Presentation, James Lepock Memorial Symposium |
| 2012 | Best Student Paper Award, Biomedical Optics Topical Meeting |
| 2011 | Top Poster Presentation, 5th International Graduate Summer School Biophotonics '11 |
| 2010 | Top Poster Award, Gordon Research Conference: Lasers in Medicine and Biology |
| 2009 | ESP Fellowship, European Society of Photobiology |
| 2009 | WMIC Travel Stipend, World Molecular Imaging Congress |
| 2008 | OCE Travel Award, Ontario Centre of Excellence |
| 2006 | Undergraduate Scholar Program Scholarship, University of British Columbia |
| 2005 | Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarship, University of Toronto |
| 2004 | USRA NSERC Research Award, University of Waterloo |
| 2003 | USRA NSERC Research Award, University of Alberta |
| 2002 | Undergraduate Scholar Program Scholarship, University of British Columbia |
| 2002 | W.H. MacInnes Entrance Scholarship in Latin, University of British Columbia |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Orteca G, Pisaneschi F, Rubagotti S, Liu TW, Biagiotti G, Piwnica-Worms D, Iori M, Capponi PC, Ferrari E, Asti M. Development of a potential gallium-68 labelled radiotracer based on DOTA-curcumin for colon-rectal carcinoma: from synthesis to in vivo studies. Molecules 24(3):644, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30759785.
- Liu TW, Akens MK, Chen J, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Matrix metalloproteinase-based photodynamic molecular beacons for targeted destruction of bone metastases in vivo. Photochem Photobiol Sci 15(3):375-81, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26880165.
- Liu TW, Chen J, Burgess L, Wilson BC, Zheng G, Zhan L, Liu WK, Ha BY. Activation kinetics of zipper molecular beacons. J Phys Chem B 119(1):44-53, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25474619.
- Moriyama EH, Cao W, Liu TW, Wang HL, Kim PD, Chen J, Zheng G, Wilson BC. Optical glucose analogs of aminolevulinic acid for fluorescence-guided tumor resection and photodynamic therapy. Mol Imaging Biol 16(4):495-503, 2014. PMID: 24323192.
- MacDonald TD, Liu TW, Zheng G. An MRI-sensitive, non-photobleachable porphysome photothermal agent. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 53(27):6956-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24840234.
- Liu TW, Macdonald TD, Jin CS, Gold JM, Bristow RG, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Inherently multimodal nanoparticle-driven tracking and real-time delineation of orthotopic prostate tumors and micrometastases. ACS Nano 7(5):4221-32, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23544841.
- Liu TW, Stewart JM, MacDonald TD, Chen J, Clarke B, Shi J, Wilson BC, Neel BG, Zheng G. Biologically-targeted detection of primary and micro-metastatic ovarian cancer. Theranostics 3(6):420-7, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23781288.
- Liu TW, MacDonald TD, Shi J, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Intrinsically copper-64-labeled organic nanoparticles as radiotracers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 51(52):13128-31, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23154923.
- Liu TW, Chen J, Zheng G. Peptide-based molecular beacons for cancer imaging and therapy. Amino Acids 41(5):1123-34, 2011. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20169374.
- Liu TW, Akens MK, Chen J, Wise-Milestone L, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Imaging of specific activation of photodynamic molecular beacons in breast cancer vertebral metastases. Bioconjug Chem 22(6):1021-30, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21585206.
- Liu TW, Chen J, Burgess L, Cao W, Shi J, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Multimodal bacteriochlorophyll theranostic agent. Theranostics 1:354-62, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21938263.
- Shi J, Liu TW, Chen J, Green D, Jaffray D, Wilson BC, Wang F, Zheng G. Transforming a Targeted Porphyrin Theranostic Agent into a PET Imaging Probe for Cancer. Theranostics 1:363-70, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21938264.
- Lovell JF, Liu TW, Chen J, Zheng G. Activatable photosensitizers for imaging and therapy. Chem Rev 110(5):2839-57, 2010. PMID: 20104890.
- Chen J, Liu TW, Lo PC, Wilson BC, Zheng G. "Zipper" molecular beacons: a generalized strategy to optimize the performance of activatable protease probes. Bioconjug Chem 20(10):1836-42, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19754039.
Book Chapters
- Gammon ST, Liu TW, Piwnica-Worms D. Eavesdropping on Intercellular Communication with Genetically Encoded Imaging Reporters. In: In: Visualizing Chemical Communications Among Migratory Cells in vivo. Springer International Publishing: Switzerland.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Expressing Myeloperoxidase Directly Inhibit Adaptive Immune Cells Limiting Immunotherapy in Melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | CIHR Fellowship - Imaging the Changes in Tumor and Stromal Compartments During Short-term Starvation in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells Limit Immunotherapy in Melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |