Biography

Liang Qiao is a Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the Storr Liver Centre (SLC), the Westmead Institute of Medical Research. He is currently the Leader of the Cancer Research Group at SLC and his research projects are funded by NHMRC and NSW Cancer Council. Liang’s research interests include inflammation-related gastrointestinal and liver cancers, with a particular focus on the role of cancer stem cells in inflammation-related cancer development. He is currently working on several projects, including role of IL-6 and Notch signaling in liver cancer and targeting cancer stem cells as a novel approach in liver cancer therapy.

Liang serves as an assessor for NHMRC project grants and several other overseas funding bodies (Wellcome Trust, The Israel Science Foundation, National Research Foundation of UAE College of Science). He is a Faculty Member of the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. He is a member of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), a member of the NSW Stem Cell Network, a member of the Australian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR), and a member of the Cell Reprogramming Australia (CRA).

Dr Qiao is on the editorial board for several international journals in the field of cancer and gastroenterology/hepatology (Cancer Letters, Current Gene Therapy, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, World Journal of Gastroenterology, Analytical Cellular Pathology, Yonsei Medical Journal). He serves as a regular Guest Editor/Managing Editor for the special issues for Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Cancer Letters, Current Gene Therapy), and reviews manuscripts for multiple international journals (Oncotarget, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Journal of Hepatology, Stem Cells and Development, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Liver International, etc). He has published widely.

Research Focus

  • Gastrointestinal, colorectal, and liver cancers
  • Role of cancer stem cells in liver cancer and CRC
  • iPSCs and potential therapeutic implication in end-stage liver diseases
  • Fatty liver diseases (NASH, and NASH associated liver cancers) 

Other Affiliations

Faculty of Medicine and Health > FMH Medical Research Institutes > Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Awards and Recognition

  • 2014 – 2017 NSW Cancer Council Project Grant
  • 2014 – Westmead Bridging Grant, Westmead Hospital Charitable Trust and the Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research
  • 2012 – Roche Pillar Awards (Pegasys Initiatives for Learning and Research), Roche Products Pty Limited
  • 2013 – 2015 NHMRC Project Grant
  • 2010 – Roche Pillar Awards (Pegasys Initiatives for Learning and Research), Roche Products Pty Limited
  • 2009 – 2014 New South Wales Cancer Institute, Career Development and Support Fellowship Future Research Leader Grants

Education

  • BS, Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
  • MS, Clinical Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), First Clinical School of the Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
  • PhD, Cancer Medicine, University of Sydney