Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Professor Zhiliang Lu is a recipient of the Leading Sci-Edu Talents of the SIP Jinji Lake Double Hundred Talents. Following an undergraduate study in Pharmaceutical Sciences, he pursued an MSc in Pharmacology both at Zhejiang University. He then obtained his PhD degree in Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in1990 where he started to work on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), major cell surface drug targets. Following his appointment to a Lecturer (1991-1992) and an Associate Professor (1992-1995) at the Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang University, he rapidly established his own research lab focusing on the structure-function relationships of GPCRs and their cell signalling. He is a supervisor of MRes and PhD students. His research was well funded by national grants such as National Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Professor Lu was awarded a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship (1995-1997) at the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR, now Francis Crick Institute). He was then awarded an MRC appointment as a Band 3 senior scientist (1997-2001), where he retained his research interest on GPCRs. Following his research success at NIMR, he was offered an MRC Programme Leader Track position (2001-2007) at MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in the University of Edinburgh, and was then promoted to the Tenured Programme Leader in 2007. Professor Lu continues his research on GPCRs and cell signalling in neurons, reproduction, metablism and cancers funded by NSFC and XJTLU research development funds after he joined XJTLU in 2011. He is also interested in cell signaling control of mRNA methylation in pathophysiology. Professor Lu has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications and book chapters. He is an honorary Professor and PhD supervisor of the University of Liverpool.
Research interests
Ligand-induced selective signalling of GPCRs in neurons, metablism and cancer.
Gene and cell control of mRNA methylation in carcinogenesis.
Development and application of the state-of-art NanoBRET technology in protein-protein or protein-ligand interaction and high throughput drug screening.
Experience
Director of Suzhou Municipal Key Lab of Cancer Biology and Chronic Disease (2024-)
Research Director of School of Science, XJTLU (2021-22)
Professor of the Department of Biosciences and Bioinfromatics, XJTLU, 2011-
Tenured Programme Leader, MRC HRSU, Edinburgh University, 2007 – 2011.
Programme Leader Track, MRC, HRSU, Edinburgh University, 2001 – 2007.
Senior Scientist, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, 1997 - 2001
Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship, MRC NIMR, 1995 – 1997.
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang University, 1992-1995.
Lecturer, Deaprtment of Biological Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang University, 1991 – 1992.
Teaching
BIO406 (MRes Research Project)
BIO407 (MRes Research Project)
BIO301 Biology of Disease (Biochemistry of Disease and Cancer Biology, Year 4), 2011-present.
BIO208 Cell Signalling (Year 3), 2011-present.
BIO303 Final Year Project (Year4), Coordinator, 2011-2013 and 2014-2018.
BIO302 Biochemical Messengers (Year 4), 2011-2017.
BIO111 Key Skills for Life Scientists (Year 2), 2011-13.
Awards and honours
2011 Jinji Lake 200 Talent Programme, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP金鸡湖双百人才计划 - 科教领军人才)
1994 Excellent Young Teacher, Zhejiang University (浙江大学优秀青年教师)
1993 Yilida Excellent Teacher, Zhejiang University (浙江大学亿利达优秀教师奖)
1993 Supervisor of PhD students, Zhejiang University
1992 Excellent paper, The Science and Technology Association of Zhejiang Province (浙江省科协优秀论奖)
1992 Excellent Award in Science & Technology, Zhejiang University (浙江大学科学技术奖)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
Ph.D (Medicine), Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China, Medicine, 1990
M.Sc (Medicne), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, Pharmacology, 1987
B.Sc (Medicine), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, Pharmacy, 1984
External positions
Visiting Professor, Taihe Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine
1 May 2025 → 30 Apr 2028
Research areas
- Biomedical sciences
- Cell signalling and neuroscience
- mRNA modifications
- Oncogene and cancer
- G protein-coupled receptors
Person Types
- Staff
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Investigationonimmunecharacteristies and precise classification of triple- negative breast cancer
Rong, R. (PI), Lu, Z. (CoI) & Meng, J. (CoI)
17/03/25 → 16/03/28
Project: Collaborative Research Project
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Suzhou Municipal Key Lab of Cancer Biology and Chronic Disease
Lu, Z. (PI)
1/04/24 → …
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Roles of Lac-Phe and G proteins inthe regulation of m6A mRNA methylation
Lu, Z. (PI)
1/03/24 → 31/12/28
Project: Internal Research Project
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Examination of G protein coupling profile of human GnRH receptor and its P128K mutant
Lu, Z. (PI)
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Internal Research Project
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Suzhou Municipal Key Lab for Metabolic Syndrome Drug Research
Meng, J. (PI), Meng, W. (Team member), Jiang, X. (Team member), Wei, Z. (Team member), Li, T. (Team member), Liu, X. (Team member), Su, J. (Team member), Yue, C. (Team member), Douroudis, K. (Team member), Kappes, F. (Team member), Park, J. (Team member), Wang, M. (Team member), Rong, R. (Team member), Raju, S. (Team member), Huang, X. (Team member), Kadowaki, T. (Team member), OConnor, D. (Team member), Lu, Z. (Team member), Feng, Q. (Team member), Yi, Y. (Team member), Chen, Y. (Team member), Jiang, B. (Team member), Yuan, X. (Team member), Cui, J. (Team member), Meng, S. (Team member), Smith, G. (Team member), Loh, B. (Team member) & 李荪 (Team member)
1/01/22 → 31/12/23
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Data Mining Approach to Melatonin Treatment in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Gene Targets MMP2 and NR3C1
Zhang, J., Tsui, K. C., Lee, H. Y., Aquili, L., Wong, K. H., Kocabicak, E., Temel, Y., Lu, Z., Fung, M. L., Kalueff, A. & Lim, L. W., Jan 2025, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 26, 1, 338.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Development of A Novel NanoBRET High-Throughput Drug Screening Assay for Human GnRH Receptor Using Sulfo-cyanine 5 Fluorophore
Shen, L., Du, X., Yang, Y., Su, M., Rong, R., Meng, J., Lim, L. W., Fernig, D. & Lu, Z., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Ganoderma lucidum: An Emerging Nutritional Approach to Manage Depression
Jin, H., Aquili, L., Heng, B. C., Strekalova, T., Fung, M. L., Tipoe, G. L., Kocabicak, E., Blokland, A., Temel, Y., Lu, Z., Kalueff, A., Wong, K. H. & Lim, L. W., 24 Feb 2025, In: Food Reviews International. 41, 7, p. 2033-2054Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)100 Downloads (Pure) -
Hepatitis B virus X protein contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma via upregulation of KIAA1429 methyltransferase and mRNA m6A hypermethylation of HSPG2/Perlecan.
Sivasudhan, E., Zhou, J., Ma, J., Wang, Y., Liu, S., Khan, F. I., Lu, Z., Meng, J., Blake, N. & Rong, R., Jan 2025, In: Molecular Carcinogenesis. 64, 1, p. 108-125 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Past, present, and future of serotonin-targeting therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease: Perspectives from DNA methylation
Liu, Y., Aquili, L., Wong, K. H., Lu, Z. & Lim, L. W., Jun 2025, In: Ageing Research Reviews. 108, 22 p., 102755.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
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Targeting SLC12A9: A Potential Strategy for Modulating Ammonia Metabolism in Liver Cancer
Weiwei Dai (Supervisor) & Zhiliang Lu (Co-supervisor)
1 Sept 2025 → 31 Aug 2029Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision
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Ming Su
Zhiliang Lu (Supervisor), Rong Rong (Co-supervisor), Jia Meng (Co-supervisor) & David Fernig (Co-supervisor)
2 Jan 2025Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision
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Yanan Li
Rong Rong (Supervisor) & Zhiliang Lu (Co-supervisor)
Sept 2024Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision
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Lingyan Yang
Rong Rong (Supervisor), Zhiliang Lu (Co-supervisor) & David Fernig (Co-supervisor)
Aug 2024Activity: Supervision › PhD Supervision
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PhD Viva
Zhiliang Lu (Organiser)
3 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …