Dr. Liu's research aims to address the mechanisms of islet mass loss during development of diabetes. In a close collaboration with Dr. Fawaz Haj, his research is addressing the roles of protein-tyrosine phosphatases in the regulation of islet function and survival under conditions of obesity-induced diabetes. Dr. Liu's work also focuses on dissecting the apoptotic machinery in islets destruction during the progression of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. His research uses genetically-engineered mouse models, ex vivo islet functional assays, pancreatic beta cell lines in combination with advanced imaging and electron microscopy ultrastructural analysis.