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INFORMATION FOR

Chuan-Ju Liu, PhD

Charles W. Ohse Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
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Additional Titles

Vice Chair of Research, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

About

Titles

Charles W. Ohse Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Vice Chair of Research, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation; Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Biography

Dr. Chuan-Ju Liu holds the position of Charles W. Ohse Professor of Orthopaedics, with tenure in the Traditional Track, and serves as the Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale University School of Medicine. Additionally, he is a Professor in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Yale University. Before joining Yale, he worked at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine from 2002 to 2023, where he held various positions, including Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, and Full Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Cell Biology.

Dr. Liu's primary area of research is centered on critical aspects of musculoskeletal health and disorders, particularly inflammation, age-related changes in joints and bones, and skeletal diseases. His research is primarily dedicated to investigating musculoskeletal, autoimmune, and lysosomal storage diseases, with a particular emphasis on conditions like common osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fracture healing, and rare genetic Gaucher Disease.

Dr. Liu's research contributions have resulted in the publication of over 200 peer-reviewed papers in esteemed journals, including Nature and Science. His research has been also recognized by multiple organizations. This includes the Kappa Delta Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Ethelmae Haldan Award for Innovative Science in Osteoarthritis Research from Arthritis National Research Foundation, and the Basic Research Award from American College of Rheumatology.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

  • Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
  • Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
  • Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
  • Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)

Education & Training

Postdoctoral Associate
Yale University School of Medicine (2000)
PhD
Shandong University & Chinese Academy of Science (1996)

Research

Overview

Arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects over 66 million individuals in the United States. It is characterized by the destruction of the extracellular matrix of cartilage and bone, driven by excessive proteolytic activity and an imbalance between inflammatory cytokines and their antagonists. Identifying factors that regulate these processes is essential for understanding disease pathogenesis and developing effective therapies.

At the Liu Lab, we have made significant progress in identifying key regulators of arthritis progression. One of our primary focuses has been on ion channels, particularly sodium channels, and their role in arthritis. We discovered that sodium channel Nav1.7, previously believed to be specific to neurons, is expressed at low levels in chondrocytes but plays a critical role in osteoarthritis progression. Our studies demonstrated that genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of Nav1.7 significantly reduces joint damage and alleviates pain in multiple mouse models of osteoarthritis. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting Nav1.7 for disease-modifying treatments in osteoarthritis.

Beyond ion channel research, we have extensively studied progranulin (PGRN), an autocrine growth factor-like molecule with diverse functions. Originally identified in our lab as both a chondrogenic and osteoarthritis-related growth factor, PGRN was later shown to interact with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, linking it to inflammation and autoimmunity, particularly inflammatory arthritis. Our ongoing research seeks to further elucidate the role of PGRN in arthritis and autoimmune diseases, with a specific focus on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, aiming to develop PGRN-based interventions for inflammatory and degenerative conditions.

Moreover, our investigation into PGRN’s role in lung inflammation led to its unexpected identification as a modifier in Gaucher disease, a common lysosomal storage disorder. This discovery provides a foundation for further studies on PGRN's role in lysosomal storage diseases and neurodegenerative conditions, offering a unique target for therapeutic development in these and potentially related disorders.

Our lab continues to integrate molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches to address fundamental questions in musculoskeletal and related diseases, with a strong focus on translating our findings into innovative therapeutic strategies.

Medical Research Interests

Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Autoimmune Diseases; Bone Regeneration; Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Fractures, Cartilage; Inflammation; Lysosomal Storage Diseases; Musculoskeletal Development; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Osteoarthritis; Sodium Channels; Tissue Engineering

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Chuan-Ju Liu's published research.

Publications

Featured Publications

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Get In Touch

Contacts

Email
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

P.O. Box 208071

New Haven, CT 06520-8071

United States

Administrative Support

Locations

  • Rm0535B

    Academic Office

    Tompkins Memorial Pavilion

    789 Howard Avenue

    New Haven, CT 06519

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