Chuan-Ju Liu, PhD

Arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affects tens of millions of people in the United States and is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability. Dr. Liu’s research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive joint degeneration, inflammation, and age-related musculoskeletal decline, with the ultimate goal of developing disease-modifying therapies.

One area of focus is the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7, which was traditionally thought to be specific to neurons. Dr. Liu’s laboratory made the landmark discovery that Nav1.7 is functionally expressed in chondrocytes and plays an important role in osteoarthritis progression. His work demonstrated that targeting Nav1.7 not only reduces pain but also protects joint structure in multiple preclinical models, revealing a new therapeutic strategy for osteoarthritis and other cartilage-associated degenerative disorders (Fu, et al, Nature, 2024; Zhou, et al, Nat Rev Rheumatol., 2024).

In parallel, Dr. Liu is recognized for his work on progranulin (PGRN), a multifunctional growth factor–like molecule with key roles in inflammation and immune regulation. His laboratory discovered that PGRN directly interacts with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, uncovering a previously unrecognized mechanism by which PGRN modulates inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This work has provided a foundation for developing PGRN-based biologics for inflammatory autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (Tang, et al, Science, 2011; Liu, Science, 2025).

Dr. Liu’s research on PGRN has also led to insights beyond the musculoskeletal system. His lab unexpectedly identified PGRN as an intracellular lysosomal protein and an important disease modifier in Gaucher disease, one of the most common lysosomal storage disorders. This discovery revealed a novel connection between inflammation, lysosomal function, and neurodegeneration, broadening the impact of his work to include rare genetic and neurodegenerative diseases (Jian, et al, eBiomedicine, 2016; Zhao, et al, PNAS, 2023).

Overall, the Liu Lab integrates molecular biology, immunology, genetics, biomaterials, and in vivo disease models to uncover disease-driving mechanisms and translate them into innovative therapeutic approaches. The laboratory’s interdisciplinary and translational focus provides a dynamic training environment for students and postdoctoral fellows interested in musculoskeletal biology, autoimmunity, inflammation, aging, and therapeutic development.