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Liou Y. Sun headshot.
 

Associate Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3134 East Science Hall, Science & Engineering Complex
(205) 934-8243

Research and Teaching Interests: Biology of Aging, Endocrinology, Obesity, Neurodegenerative disease

Office Hours: By appointment

Education:

  • M.D., Southeast University Medical School, Nanjing (China), Medicine
  • Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology

Dr. Sun's laboratory is exploring the genetic control of aging in mammals and vertebrates. We are studying the endocrine mechanisms and nutritional factors for their effects on longevity and aging.

  • The physiological role of the somatotropic axis in the control of aging in mammals and vertebrates
  • The dietary factors on aging and longevity: calorie restriction vs. methionine restriction
  • Interventions studies of age-related diseases such as Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease
Research Opportunities
I am accepting Master's and Ph.D. students in my lab. If you are interested in joining my lab, please send me an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) that outlines your research interests, as well as your curriculum vitae.

  • Research Interests

    Dr. Sun's current research focus on nutrition and hormonal signals during early-life development can influence the long-term health and the development of age-related diseases. Learn more about his previous research.

    Learn more about Dr. Sun's research on his lab website. He is currently recruiting motivated postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, research associates, and undergraduates. Candidates from a variety of backgrounds will be considered, provided they make a compelling case for contributing to the objectives and goals of the lab. Learn more about these opportunities on the website.

  • Recent Courses
    • BY 687 & BY 787: Endocrinology of Aging
    • BY 362 & BY 695: Neurobiology
  • Select Publications
    • Sun LY, Fang Y, Patki A, Koopman JJ, Allison DB, Hill CM, Masternak MM, Darcy J, Wang J, McFadden S, Bartke A. Longevity is impacted by growth hormone action during early postnatal period. Elife. 2017 Jul 4;6. pii: e24059. doi: 10.7554/eLife.24059.
    • Sun LY*, Spong A , Swindell WR, Arum O, Fang Y, Hill C, Huber J, Boehm J, Westbrook R, Salvatori R, Bartke A, "Growth Hormone-releasing Hormone Disruption Extends Lifespan and Regulates Response to Caloric Restriction in Mice," eLife (October 29, 2012; Epub 2013).
    • Bartke A, Sun LY, Longo V, "Somatotropic signaling: trade-offs between growth, reproductive development, and longevity," Physiol Rev. 93 (No. 2, April 2013):571-98.
    • Sun LY, Bokov AF, Richardson A, and Miller RA, "Hepatic response to oxidative injury in long-lived Ames dwarf mice," FASEB J. (September 8, 2010). PMCID: PMC3005438.
    • Sun LY, Steinbaugh MJ, Masternak MM, Bartke A, Miller RA, "Fibroblasts from long-lived mutant mice show diminished ERK1/2 phosphorylation but exaggerated induction of immediate early genes," Free Radic Biol Med. 47 (12, December 15, 2009):1753-61. September 26, PMCID: PMC2783454.
    • Sun LY and D'Ercole AJ, "Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulates histone H3 and H4 acetylation in the brain in vivo," Endocrinology 147 (11, November 2006):5480-90. PMCID: PMC1847619.
    • Sun LY, Al-Regaiey K, Masternak MM, Wang J, and Bartke A. "Local expression of GH and IGF-1 in the hippocampus of GH-deficient long-lived mice." Neurobiol Aging. 26 (6, June 2005):929-37.
    • Sun LY, Evans MS, Hsieh J, Panici J, and Bartke A, "Increased neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of long-lived Ames dwarf mice," Endocrinology 146 (3, March 2005):1138-44. Epub November 24, 2004.
  • Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
    • NIA-AFA Butler-Williams Scholars, 2015
    • NIH career development award, 2014
    • NIA award for NIA Training in Experimental Aging Research Seattle, 2008
    • Ellison Medical Foundation award for the Summer Aging Course, 2006
    • Scholarship of 2005 Gordon Research Conference on IGF, 2005
    • Glenn Foundation/AFAR Scholars Research in the Biology of Aging, 2003