FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant Professor Z. Leonardo Liu has been awarded the 2024 Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award for his groundbreaking research into blood clotting mechanisms.
Liu is the only awardee from the United States among six international recipients, placing him among the most promising young researchers advancing the understanding of thrombosis and hemostasis, the complex biological processes that control blood clotting and bleeding.
“I was both surprised and deeply honored to receive this recognition,” Liu said. “Being acknowledged by such a respected journal and editorial board is incredibly meaningful. I hope this visibility will expand the reach of our research and open doors to new collaborations that lead to transformative therapies for blood-related diseases.”
DISCOVERIES IN BLOOD CLOTTING RESEARCH
Liu’s research explores fundamental questions about how fluid forces in circulating blood influence clotting at the molecular and cellular scale. By integrating advanced supercomputing simulations with whole-blood experiments, his team investigates how proteins and cells interact in the flow of blood affected by disease or injury, an area that has traditionally been difficult to probe with conventional research methods.
His work has revealed surprising insights about the role of red blood cells in blood clotting regulation. His recent studies show that blood clotting proteins operate like tiny mechanical switches, toggling on or off in response to precisely controlled mechanical forces generated by the collective motion of red blood cells.
“Our findings show that red blood cells — once thought of merely as passive carriers of oxygen — also play an active role in regulating these ‘tiny switches’ that control blood clotting through intricate fluid-mechanical forces,” Liu said.
ADDRESSING CRITICAL HEALTH THREATS
A major focus of Liu’s research is von Willebrand factor (VWF), a large protein essential to clot formation. Studying VWF helps address two major health threats. Excessive levels or hyperactivity of VWF can cause occlusive clots, which completely block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes, the leading cause of death in people older than 65. Deficiencies or abnormalities in VWF are also a problem and can lead to bleeding disorders or the failure to form clots during major blood loss, a leading cause of death in people younger than 45.
The integration of computational modeling with experimental validation that characterizes Liu’s research methodology represents the cutting-edge interdisciplinary approach that defines modern biomedical engineering. His work demonstrates how engineering principles can provide fundamental insights into biological processes that directly impact human health outcomes.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Eberhard F. Mammen Award, established in 2009 by publisher Thieme, honors the legacy of Professor Eberhard Mammen, who significantly advanced this field and the journal for over 30 years. The award highlights innovative research and emerging talent in hemostasis and thrombosis research.