Zhenhua Liu

Zhenhua Liu

Department of Nutrition
Goessmann Building 281D
686 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003

(413) 545-1075
zliu@nutrition.umass.edu
www.umass.edu/public-health-sciences/about/directory/zhenhua-liu

Professor of Nutrition

Graduate Program Director, Nutrition

Micronutrients, traditional medicine, nutritional epigenetics, obesity and inflammation, gut microbiome, gastrointestinal health, cancer prevention

Current Research

Diet and lifestyle are modifiable factors that play a critical role in public health.  My laboratory investigates how those factors and their metabolically-related gene variants interact to influence the development of chronic diseases. My research experiences have been, for a long period, concentrating on a) Nutritional Epigenetics and b) Obesity and Inflammation in the context of Cancer Prevention. Specifically, my laboratory focuses on nutritional regulation of Wnt pathway as it tightly relates to the development of many cancers including colorectal and breast cancer. We utilize cell culture, animal models and human biospecimens, biochemical and molecular techniques, as well as nutritional informatics and functional genomic approaches to understand the etiology of cancer. We explore the health benefits of nutrients and natural medicinal components (including traditional Chinese medicine) with epigenetic and/or anti-inflammatory properties. The ultimate goal of my research is to integrate our biological findings with dietary strategies to diminish the burden of chronic diseases in our society.

Academic Background

BS Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan, P.R.C.
MS China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R.C.
MS Auburn University
PhD Nutritional Biochemistry Auburn University
Postdoctoral Training: Tufts University Nutrition and Cancer Prevention, Tufts University-New England Medical Center and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University

  • Center for Bioactive Delivery 
  • Models to Medicine Center 
  • Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy 
  • Engineered Models and Mechanisms in Cancer (EM2C) 
  • Metabolism and Cancer 
  • Small Molecule Delivery & Nutraceuticals