Lucy Liaw, PhD

Faculty Scientist III
Director, Research Training Programs
Director, Mouse Genome Modification Core
Lucy.Liaw@mainehealth.org

Education
BS: Biology, University of Arizona
PhD: Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle
Postdoctoral Training: Cell Biology & Cardiology, Vanderbilt University

I have run a research program at Maine Medical Center for over 20 years, focusing on understanding regulators of cardiovascular disease. My current responsibilities also include overseeing our Mouse Genome Modification shared resource and directing our Research Training programs. I also lead a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Metabolic Networks, and in this capacity mentor early career investigators and oversee additional shared resources. I am inspired by my outstanding research team and all of the other dedicated individuals that it takes to run a successful research operation

Anne Harrington, BS

Technology Manager
Anne.Harrington@mainehealth.org

Abby Kaija

Research Assistant III
Abigail.Kaija@mainehealth.org

I am a Research Assistant focused on the molecular biology aspect of generating novel mouse models through genotyping mouse strains and maintaining records for the mouse colony. I also practice mouse procedures important to the Mouse Genome Modification Core. On days I’m not biking into work at the Institute, I love to hike/ski, explore new recipes in my kitchen, and watercolor.

Maryam Mahdi

Academic Intern

I am a student intern from the University of Southern Maine. I am exploring research and learning new techniques at the Liaw Lab. My project focuses on the effects of methionine restriction on PVAT cells’ proliferation and differentiation.

Kimberly Malka, MD, PhD

Vascular Surgeon
Kimberly.Malka@mainehealth.org

Larisa Ryzhova, MD, PhD

Scientific Manager
Larisa.Ryzhova@mainehealth.org

Xuehui Yang

Staff Scientist
Xuehui.Yang@mainehealth.org

My research interest is to elucidate the mechanisms of pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. My focus is on the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic remodeling.VSMCs are localized in the tunica media of the vasculature

and responsible for regulating arterial tone, blood pressure, and blood supply of the tissues. However, under pathological or stressed conditions, VSMCs undergo phenotypic switching, and contribute to multiple cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and arterial aneurysms. My goal is to identify disease related VSMC phenotypes, and the underlying signaling pathways. 

Caption photo left: Multicolor RNA Scope analysis for Spry1, PDGFRb, and Sca1 mRNA expression demonstrates a colonial VSMC up-regulation of Sca1, a mesenchymal marker, under hypercholesterolemia condition in SMC-specific Spry1 knockout mice. White arrowheads indicate Sca1 expressing VSMC in vessel media layer