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Ya-Cheng Liao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University. With training as a microscopist and cell biologist in the lab of Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz at the HHMI Janelia Research Campus, he focuses on uncovering novel cellular mechanisms in neurons. Specifically, his research explores RNA transport in neuronal axons, lysosome hitchhiking, and lysosome-mediated turnover of endoplasmic reticulum exit sites in response to nutrient stress. At Columbia, the Liao Lab employs advanced imaging and biochemical methods to investigate the spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression and organelle dynamics, particularly in relation to brain dysregulation and neurological diseases. Liao's studies emphasize the pivotal role of mRNA metabolism in neuronal function and how disruptions in this process contribute to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. His lab combines molecular and biochemical approaches with cutting-edge imaging technologies to visualize the life cycle of mRNAs in neurons at single-molecule resolution, providing insights into their localization and function in vivo.
Department of Anthropology (GSAS)