Professor Fang Liu previously held positions as a professor and co-director of Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Translation, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, a senior scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) at the University of Toronto, and the leader of the Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory. Additionally, she served as the Tapscott Chair in Schizophrenia Studies at the University of Toronto. Over two decades, Prof. Liu has dedicated her research to the study of psychiatric disorders through basic, clinical, and translational approaches, resulting in numerous pioneering and original findings in areas such as pathogenesis, biomarkers, drug development, and treatment. Her contributions to the field are evidenced by nearly 100 publications in esteemed journals such as Nature, Cell, Neuron, and Nature Medicine, as well as the acquisition of 8 international patents.

Targeting the GluR2-GAPDH protein complex
R&D of interfering protein peptides and small molecule compounds for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
R&D of interfering peptides with antidepressant effects and the pathogenesis of major depression
R&D of interfering protein peptides with anti-schizophrenia and few side effects
Our team discovered and demonstrated for the first time that G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels can directly bind and interact.
We identify the GR-FKBP51 complex as a diagnostic marker and a potential preventive and therapeutic target for post-traumatic stress disorder for the first time.

Prof. Fang Liu has continually handled more than 20 national research projects in Canada, USA, and China. In the past five years, Prof. Liu has presided over more than 10 major national scientific research projects.

1)Su P, Yan S, Chen K, Huang L, Wang L, Lee FHF, Zhou H, Lai TKY, Jiang A, Samsom J, Wong AHC, Yang G, Liu F. EF1α-associated protein complexes affect dendritic spine plasticity by regulating microglial phagocytosis in Fmr1 knock-out mice. Mol Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 11. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-02396-2.
2)Zhai D, Yan S, Samsom J, Wang L, Su P, Jiang A, Zhang H, Jia Z, Wallach I, Heifets A, Zanato C, Tseng CC, Wong AHC, Greig IR, Liu F. Small-molecule targeting AMPA-mediated excitotoxicity has therapeutic effects in mouse models for multiple sclerosis. Science Advance. 2023 Dec 8;9(49):eadj6187. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6187.
3)Su P, Yan S, Yang J, Tong J, Samsom J, You F, Li Y, Chen Q, Jiang A, Zhai D, Chen J, Sun Z, Zhou J, Liu M, Lee FJS, Xu ZD, Wang X, Vasdev N, Wong AHC, Liu F. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) modulates antidepressant effects through promoting membrane insertion of the serotonin transporter. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 Sep 8. doi: 10.1038/s41386-022-01449-4.
4)Li Y, Su P, Chen Y, Nie J, Yuan TF, Wong AH, Liu F. The Eph receptor A4 plays a role in demyelination and depression-related behavior. J Clin Invest. 2022 Apr 15;132(8):e152187. doi: 10.1172/JCI152187.
5)Li H, Su P, Lai TK, Jiang A, Liu J, Zhai D, Campbell CT, Lee FH, Yong W, Pasricha S, Li S, Wong AH, Ressler KJ, Liu F. The glucocorticoid receptor-FKBP51 complex contributes to fear conditioning and posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Invest. 2020 Feb 3;130(2):877-889. doi: 10.1172/JCI130363.
6)Su P, Li S, Chen S, Lipina TV, Wang M, Lai TK, Lee FH, Zhang H, Zhai D, Ferguson SS, Nobrega JN, Wong AH, Roder JC, Fletcher PJ, Liu F. A dopamine D2 receptor-DISC1 protein complex may contribute to antipsychotic-like effects. Neuron. 2014 Dec 17;84(6):1302-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.11.007.
7)Li S, Li Z, Pei L, Le AD, Liu F. The α7nACh-NMDA receptor complex is involved in cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. J Exp Med. 2012 Nov 19;209(12):2141-7. doi: 10.1084/jem.20121270.
8)Pei L, Li S, Wang M, Diwan M, Anisman H, Fletcher PJ, Nobrega JN, Liu F. Uncoupling the dopamine D1-D2 receptor complex exerts antidepressant-like effects. Nature Medicine. 2010 Dec;16(12):1393-5. doi: 10.1038/nm.2263.
9)Lee FJ, Xue S, Pei L, Vukusic B, Chéry N, Wang Y, Wang YT, Niznik HB, Yu XM, Liu F. Dual regulation of NMDA receptor functions by direct protein-protein interactions with the dopamine D1 receptor. Cell. 2002 Oct 18;111(2):219-30. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00962-5.
10)Liu F, Wan Q, Pristupa ZB, Yu XM, Wang YT, Niznik HB. Direct protein-protein coupling enables cross-talk between dopamine D5 and gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors. Nature. 2000 Jan 20;403(6767):274-80. doi: 10.1038/35002014.

2020, the Tapscott Chair in Schizophrenia Studies
2019, fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
2016, Association for the study of Neurons and Diseases Investigator Award
2008, Ontario Research Commercialization Program Award
2008, The Heart and Stroke career investigator award
2007, Honorable mention of Daniel X. Freedman Award (NARSAD)

For over two decades, our team has dedicated its efforts to conducting fundamental, clinical, and translational research on psychiatric disorders, resulting in a substantial accumulation of findings and expertise in the areas of psychiatric disease pathogenesis, biomarkers, drug development, and therapeutic interventions.
Given the pressing demand for psychotropic medications and the expertise of our team, we are dedicated to creating a framework for the advancement of psychiatric drug development that encompasses mechanism exploration, target identification, multi-target pharmaceutical design, high-throughput screening, lead compound identification, translation, and industrialization of products for clinical trials of innovative pharmaceuticals.
The direction of the research:
1. Research on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, depression and other mental diseases.
2. Screening of novel biomarkers for mental illness.
3. Research and development of interfering peptides and small molecule compounds with therapeutic effects on mental illness.
4. Treatment and mechanism of neurological diseases, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
5. The identification of new lead compounds within natural medications and the investigation of potential drug candidates.

Our team is permanently recruiting talents in the field of life and health sciences, including research fellow, associate research fellow, postdoctoral fellow, and research assistant. Please contact hr@ojlab.ac.cn for any further information.