Yongjian Liu, PhD

Medical School Department Radiology
Research Program Oncologic Imaging
Yongjian Liu

Researcher Background

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Radiology, Division of Oncology, WashU Medicine

Training

  • 2007 - 2011: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Education

  • 2000: MS, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
  • 2007: PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO

Research & Selected Publications

Research Interest

My research has focused on the development and validation of novel molecular probes from preclinical research to translational PET imaging and therapy. These imaging agents are built upon a number of platforms including peptides, small molecules, antibodies, and nanostructures and are radiolabeled with various radionuclides according to the biological half-life of the biomolecules and decay half-life of the radionuclides. Through the collaboration with other investigators, I have translated four imaging agents for human imaging including 2 radiolabeled antibodies for cancer patients PET imaging, a targeted nanoparticle for human atherosclerosis and a CCR2 targeted ECLi1 peptide for human inflammation imaging.

Research Publications

Assessment of CCR2 PET as a Biomarker for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Authors:

Li A, Sultan D, Heo GS, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y

Journal & Year:

J Nucl Med • 2026

Therapeutic reprogramming of tumour-associated macrophages in pancreatic cancer using a cytotoxic CCR2-targeted nanotheranostic.
Authors:

Somani VK, Zhang X, Chen TH, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y, Lim KH

Journal & Year:

Mol Cancer • 2026

Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of the Adaptive Immune System in Cardiovascular Diseases.
Authors:

Otaegui JR, Sultan D, Heo GS, Liu Y

Journal & Year:

Chem Biomed Imaging • 2025

Visualizing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Derived Inflammation in Atherosclerosis.
Authors:

Lou L, Detering L, Luehmann H, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y

Journal & Year:

Circ Res • 2024

Development of a [89Zr]Zr-labeled Human Antibody using a Novel Phage-displayed Human scFv Library.
Authors:

Singh AK, Lewis CD, Boas CAWV, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y, one or more additional authors omitted Hallahan DE

Journal & Year:

Clin Cancer Res • 2024

Chemokine Receptor 2 Targeted PET/CT Imaging Distant Metastases in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
Authors:

Zhang X, Detering L, Heo GS, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y

Journal & Year:

ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci • 2024

Expansion of Pathogenic Cardiac Macrophages in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis.
Authors:

Ma P, Liu J, Qin J, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y, one or more additional authors omitted Lavine KJ

Journal & Year:

Circulation • 2024

Cardiac radiation improves ventricular function in mice and humans with cardiomyopathy.
Authors:

Pedersen LN, Valenzuela Ripoll C, Ozcan M, one or more additional authors omitted Liu Y, one or more additional authors omitted Javaheri A

Journal & Year:

Med (N Y) • 2023