Molecular Neurogenetics

  • Cell and Tumor Biology
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Dr. Haikun Liu

Head of Division

The Division of Molecular Neurogenetics focuses on stem cell biology and central nervous system cancers. Our primary objective is to decipher the fundamental mechanisms driving brain tumor plasticity and to develop innovative therapies that improve glioblastoma treatment.

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Image: Organoid @ DKFZ,

Our Research

In the Division of Molecular Neurogenetics, our research centers on uncovering the molecular mechanisms that drive brain development and pathology, with a special focus on brain cancers. Over the past several years, we have identified key regulators of brain tumor stem cells, including TLX and GPD1. Notably, our work demonstrated that knocking out these factors confers a survival benefit in vivo (Cell Stem Cell, 2014), a finding recognized as one of the year’s best papers and highlighted in Nature Reviews Cancer

More recently, we identified GPD1 as the first known dormant brain tumor stem cell marker and essential regulator (Cell Stem Cell, 2019), providing critical insight into an emerging research area of cancer dormancy across various tumor types. Additionally, our studies have illuminated the crucial role of the CHARGE syndrome protein CHD7 in governing cell differentiation, a discovery that underpins a fundamental understanding of CHARGE syndrome (Cell Stem Cell, 2013; Nature Communications, 2017). 
 

Future Outlook:
Our current efforts involve generating sophisticated human brain organoid and brain tumor organoid models that closely replicate the genetic and phenotypic features of brain tumors(NPJ Precis Oncol. 2024, Cell Stem Cell, 2025). Leveraging state-of-the-art single-cell technology, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and artificial intelligence, we aim to dissect the molecular and cellular heterogeneity in human glioblastoma, with a strong emphasis on dormant cancer stem cells. Ultimately, we aim to translate our fundamental findings into clinical settings, working toward effective treatments for glioblastoma, one of the most lethal human cancers.

 

Projects

  • Targeting cancer stem cells
  • Modeling human cancer using LEGO organoid
  • Predictive Patient Derived Models for Personalized Neurooncology
  • Molecular principles in neural stem cells, neurogenesis and brain diseases
GPD1 cells are dormant cancer stem cells © Haikun Liu, Ph.D.
GPD1 cells are dormant cancer stem cells © Haikun Liu, Ph.D.

Our previously discoveries demonstrated that cancer stem cells are the right target in glioblastoma (2014, Cell Stem Cell). We recently identified the first dormant brain tumor stem cells (2019, Cell Stem Cell), which are resistant to conventional therapies. Along this line, we also identified crucial regulators of cancer stem cell dormancy. Currently we are developing several compounds aiming eliminating brain tumor stem cells, which will be further tested in clinical trials. In this direction, we are particularly interested in targeting metabolic pathways regulating tumor cell metabolism.

Resources

Our Team

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    Dr. Haikun Liu

    Head of Division

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    Heike Alter

    Technician

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    PhD Student

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    Master Student

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    Yassin Harim

    PhD Student

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    Yixuan Hu

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    Janika Hunger

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    Sophia Kornherr

    Master Student

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    Xian Li

    PhD Student

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    Xiaoyu Ma

    PhD Student

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    Gabriele Meyer

    Foreign-language Secretary

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    Chrysafenia Papavissarion

    Master Student

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    Yiwei Qi

    Visiting PostDoc

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    Miguel Sanchez Oliveros

    Visiting Master Student

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    Helene Luise Schildmann

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    Nadja Stöffler

    Technician

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    Dr. Weili Tian

    PostDoc

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    Cara Sophie Timmerhoff

    Master Student

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    Angela Valentino

    Visiting PhD Student

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    Qing Zheng

    Visiting PhD Student

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    Yue Zhuo

    PhD Student

Entire team + Alumni

Selected Publications

2025 - Cell Stem Cell.
2024 - NPJ Precis Oncol.
2019 - Nature
2019 - Cell Stem Cell.
Further

All Publications

Selected Awards and Prizes

Funding

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Get in touch with us

A man wearing glasses and a black shirt stands in a well-lit space, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The background is blurred, suggesting a modern indoor environment.

Dr. Haikun Liu

Head of Division
A woman with long, straight blonde hair and blue eyes smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a light blue shirt. The background is plain and bright, emphasizing her friendly expression.

Gabriele Meyer

Foreign-language Secretary
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