Hui Liu, MD, PH.D., MSC
Chief Scientist
Doctor Hui Liu is an internationally recognized Reproductive Scientist and Embryologist. He serves as the Chief Scientist and Senior Embryologist to New Hope Fertility, contributing significantly to the development of human nuclear transfer techniques including germinal vesicle (GV) transfer, metaphase II (MII) spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer.
Doctor Liu graduated from Xi’an Medical College (now Xi’an Jiao-tong University School of Medicine) in 1985 and was a practicing physician for two years. He received his master’s degree from the College of Life Science in Beijing Agriculture University (China Agriculture University), after which, he investigated gamete maturation and fertilization (activation) and embryo development in mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and giant pandas from 1990 to 1998, becoming an Associate Researcher at State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology of Chinese Academy Sciences.
As a Research Scientist at the New York University Program for In Vitro Fertilization, Reproductive Surgery and Infertility from 1998 to 2008, Hui Liu developed nuclear transfer techniques and his works were recognized and awarded by ASRM in 1999 and 2000. He then joined New Hope Fertility Center as a Senior Research Scientist, where he continues to develop the technique of nuclear transfer for human reproduction and has established a reliable system for the transfer of human oocyte GV and MII spindle and found direct evidence of the safety of human MII spindle transfer, leading the birth of first healthy baby by applying MII spindle transfer for patient to prevent transmission of maternal inherited mitochondrial disease.
As a Senior Embryologist at New Hope Fertility Center, Hui Liu has introduced multiple techniques in routine IVF practice, including spindle view to evaluate oocyte maturity and quality guiding the right way to care each oocyte specifically, laser-assisted ICSI to enhance the chance of normal fertilization, assisted activation to rescue incompetent oocytes, evaluate early events of fertilized egg cultured in EmbryoScope to predict the potential of embryonic development. Optimize the cryopreservation protocol for human oocyte, especially for oocyte at GV stage, a potential application to allow the GV of aged women to complete normal meiosis in healthy cytoplasm.
Message from Hui Liu
“Life is miracle, start from embryos, start from fertilized oocytes, each individual oocyte is unique, to care the unique each individual oocyte and embryo with wisdom, knowledge and full skills, the miracle will come to true.”
Publications
Publications
- Hui Liu, Zhuo Lu, Mingxue Yang, Zitao Liu, Zaher Merhi, Joshua Blazek and John Zhang. In vitro development of human oocytes reconstructed by sequential transfer of germinal vesicle and MII spindle. Fertility and Sterility, O-137 oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM 2017. Session Date/Time: Tuesday Oct 31, 2017 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Session Title: ART Procedures
Zhang J, Liu H, Luo S, Lu Z, Chávez-Badiola A, Liu Z, Yang M, Merhi Z, Silber SJ, Munné S, Konstandinidis M, Wells D, Huang T. Live birth derived from oocyte spindle transfer to prevent mitochondrial disease. Reprod Biomed Online. 2017 Apr;34(4):361-368. - H. Liu, Z. LU, S. Luo, A. Chavez-Badiola, J. Blazek, S. Munne, T. Huang, J. Zhang In vitro fertilization and development of human oocytes reconstituted by spindle nuclear transfer to replace mutated mitochondrial DNA. Fertility and Sterility, O-53 oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM 2016
- Hui Liu, Zhuo Lu, Alejandro Chavez, Pere Colls, Santiago Munné, John Zhang, The in vitro development of human zygote reconstructed by pronuclear transfer. Fertility and Sterility V104 (3) S25, O-63 oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM 2015
- Zhuo Lu, Hui Liu, Alejandro Chavez-Badiola , Michalis Konstantinidis, Santiago Munné, John Zhang, 2015 The impact of human oocyte reconstruction using meiosis II spindle transfer on the pre-implantation embryos development. Submitting to presentation at annual meeting of ASRM 2015
- John Zhang, Hui Liu 2015, Cytoplasm replacement following germinal vesicle transfer restores meiotic maturation and spindle assembly in meiotically arrested oocytes. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2015 Jul;31(1):71-8.
- H. Liu, L.C. Krey and J.A. Grifo Sucrose in the final equilibration solution interferes with the embryonic developmental potential of vitrified mouse mataphase II oocytes Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Supplement 1, September 2008, Pages S283-S284
- H. Liu, L.C. Krey and J.A. Grifo A bioassay to evaluate oocyte vitrification procedure Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Supplement 1, September 2008, Pages S284
- N. Noyes, P. Labella, C. McCaffrey, H. Liu and J.A. Grifo The success of oocyte cryopreservation followed by thaw and embryo transfer can approach that of conventional IVF Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Supplement 1, September 2008, Pages S77
- H. Liu, L.C. Krey and J.A. Grifo Equivalent viability in mouse MII oocytes exposed to choline-based and sodium-based vitrification procedures Fertility and Sterility, Volume 88, Supplement 1, September 2007, Pages S353-S354
- H. Liu, L.C. Krey and J.A. Grifo Mouse MII oocytes can tolerate a wide range of exposure time to high concentration of cryoprotectants through vitrification procedure Fertility and Sterility, Volume 88, Supplement 1, September 2007, Page S356
- H. Liu, P. Labella, H. Chang, N. Noyes, L. Krey and J. Grifo Lower culture temperature during vitrification freezing/thawing improves viability of human and mouse oocytes. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Page S128. (1). Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM October 2006; (2). Oral presentation at The Bruce K. Young MD fourth annual research retreat of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology New York University School of Medicine November 10 2006).
- H. Liu, L. Krey and J. Grifo The viability of mouse oocytes in response to vitrification is dependent on the time of retrieval after hCG stimulation. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Page S203 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- J.A. Grifo, P. Labella, F. Licciardi, H. Chang, H. Liu and N. Noyes Clinical results of an oocyte cryopreservation program Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Page S127 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- H. Liu, N. Noyes, L. Krey and J. Grifo The effect of chelating cytosolic calcium on the viability of vitrified mouse oocytes. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Pages S65-S66, O-154 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- N. Noyes, H.C. Chang, H. Liu, P. Labella, L. Meng and J.A. Grifo Presence of meiotic spindle predicts embryo competence following oocyte cryopreservation. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Pages S64-S65, O-151 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- H.C. Chang, H. Liu, N. Noyes, L. Meng, L. Krey and J. Grifo Down regulatory effects of retinoid signaling on murine and human embryonic Oct-4 gene expression. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 86, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2006, Pages S219-S220 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- H. Liu, J. Grifo and L. Krey Choline Replacement for Sodium in Vitrification and Thaw Solutions Improves the Viability and Embryonic Competence of Mouse Oocytes. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 84, Supplement 1, September 2005, Pages S36-S37. (1). Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM October 2006 (2). Oral presentation at The Bruce K. Young MD fourth annual research retreat of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology New York University School of Medicine November 18 2005).
- H. Liu, K. Greenseid, J. Grifo and L. Krey Rearrangement of β- and γ- Tubulin Immunostaining in Mouse MII Oocytes in Response to Slow Freezing and Vitrification Procedures. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 84, Supplement 1, September 2005, Page S379 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- H.C. Chang, H. Liu, J. Zhang, J. Grifo and L.C. Krey Ooplasmic factors are responsible for the developmental defects observed when immature cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes are denuded prior to maturation. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 82, Supplement 2, September 2004, Pages S10-S10 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Chang HC, Zhang J, Grifo J, Krey LC (2003) Metaphase II nuclei generated by germinal vesicle transfer in mouse oocytes support embryonic development to term. Hum Reprod. Sep;18(9):1903-7.
- Liu H, Grifo J, Krey L (2003) Germinal vesicle transfer rescues nuclear maturation from the cytoplasmic defects present in vitro-aged oocytes Fertility and Sterility, Vol.80 3S S258 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Chang HC, Liu H, Blaszczyk A, Grifo J, Krey LC (2003) Influences of mouse strain and culture media on in vitro maturation and embryogenesis of denuded mouse oocytes Fertility and Sterility, Vol.80 3S S266 (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J, Chang HC, Grifo JA (2002) Germinal vesicle xeno-transfer between mouse and human oocytes: a model to study ooplasmic influences on meiotic division. Fertility and Sterility, September Vol.76 No. 3S O-202. (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Chang HC, Liu H, Grifo JA, Krey LC (2002) Influences of Gonadotroping stimulation on in vitro maturation and embryogenesis of denuded mouse oocytes. Fertility and Sterility, September Vol.76 No. 3S P-458. (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J and Grifo JA (2001) Ooplasmic influence on the nuclear function during the metaphase II – interphase transition in mouse oocytes. Biology of Reproduction 65:1794-1799
- Krey L, Liu H, Zhang J, Grifo J. (2001) Fertility and maternal age strategies to improve pregnancy outcome. Ann N Y Acad Sci Sep;943:26-33
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J, Grifo JA (2001) Normal live birth produced from preovulatory mouse oocytes reconstructed by germinal vesicle transfer. Fertility and Sterility, September 2001 Vol.76 No. 3S S-56 O-149 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J, Grifo JA (2001) The nuclear developmental capacity of mouse oocytes following cryopreservation at germinal vesicle stage Fertility and Sterility, September 2001 Vol.76 No. 3S S-80 O-211 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Zhang J, Krey LC and Grifo JA (2000) In vitro development of mouse zygotes following reconstruction by sequential transfer of germinal vesicles and haploid pronuclei. Human Reproduction Hum Reprod 15(9):1997-2002
- Comoglio F, Moffa F, Liu H, Grifo JA, Krey LC, Zhang J (2000) Germinal vesicle transfer between fresh and cryopreserved immature mouse oocyte. Fertility and Sterility, September 2000 Vol.74 No. 3S O-0125, S47 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Zhang J, Grifo JA and Krey LC (2000) Evaluating the competency of the nucleus and ooplasm of in vitro matured, artificially activated oocytes. Fertility and Sterility, September 2000 Vol.74 No. 3S O-0174, S65 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J and Grifo JA (2000) Offspring produced by nuclear transfer can evaluate the developmental competency of the nucleus and cytoplasm of oocytes from old mice. (ASRM 2000, Second prize poster) Fertility and Sterility, September 2000 Vol.74 No. 3S P-0309, S191
- Liu H, Grifo JA, Krey LC and Zhang J (2000) Haploid maternal genome (female pronucleus) derived from an artificially activated MII oocyte following freezing-thawing supports embryonic development to term. Fertility and Sterility, September 2000 Vol.74 No. 3S O-0128, S49 (Oral presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Krey LC, Grifo JA, Blaszczyk A, Zhang J (1999) In vitro development of mouse zygotes following reconstruction by sequential transfer of germinal vesicles and female pronuclei. Program supplement of ASRM/CFAS’1999 P-091 (First prize poster); Fertility and sterility, September 1999, Vol. 72,NO.3,Suppl. 1, page S120. (Poster presentation at annual meeting of ASRM)
- Liu H, Wang CW, Grifo JA, Krey LC and Zhang J (1999) Reconstruction of mouse oocytes by germinal vesicle transfer: Maturity of host oocyte cytoplasm determines meiosis Hum Reprod Sept. 4(9):2357-61
- Zhang J, Wang CW, Krey LC, Liu H, Meng L, Blaszczyk A, Adler A, Grifo J (1999) In vitro maturation of human preovulatory oocytes reconstructed by germinal vesicle transfer. Fertility and Sterility 71 (4) 726-731.
- Sun QY, Liu H and Chen DY (1997) Calcium-independent, egg age-dependent parthenogenic activation of mouse eggs by staurosporine. Journal Of Reproduction and Development, Vol.43(3) 189-197 1997.
- Liu H, Li JS, Zhuang DZ,Huang ZY, Lian L, Wang MK, Gao SR, Song XF, Chen DY (1997) The nuclei of spermatogonia support the development of rabbit embryos as the nucleus of zygote. 97-International Symposium For Young Chinese Reproductive Biologists (Final Program and Abstracts) pp.93 (Oral presentation)
- Hui Liu, Da-yuan Chen (1996) Relationship among the cytoskeleton, the behaviour of chromosome and plasma membrane receptor of ConA in maturing mouse oocyte. Acta Anatomica Sinica 27(1):42-47 .
- Sun QY, Liu H, Li XB, Song XF, Yu JQ, Li GH and Chen DY (1996) The role of Ca2+ and protein kinase C in the acrosome reaction of giant panda spermatozoa. Theriogenology, 46(2):359-367
- Sun QY, Liu N, Li MW, Duan CW, Liu H and Chen DY (1996) Chronological and morphological progression of nucleus during mouse oocyte maturation and fertilization in vitro. Devel. Reprod. Biol. 5(1):24-33
- Li MW, Jiao R, Sun QY, Hu GJ, Duan CW, Liu H, Song XF and Chen DY (1996) Signal transduction pathways in guinea pig sperm. Science In China (Series C) 39(5):484-490
- Li MW, Jiao R, Sun QY, Hu GJ, Duan CW, Liu H, Song XF, Chen DY (1996) Study on the signal transduction pathways in guinea pig sperm. Science In China, (Series C), 26(4): 363-368
- Li MW, Sun QY, Liu H, Duan CW, Hu GJ, Chen DY (1996) Calcium distribution changes during epididymal maturation of mouse and guinea pig sperms. Acta Biologiae Experimentalis Sinica. 29(2):141-149
- Liu L, Sun QY, Duan CW, Liu H, Song XF, Qian JF, Chen DY (1996) Subzonal fertilization of round spermatids in mouse. Science In China, Series C Vol.27(2) 145-150.
- Chen DY, Song XF, Duan CW, Li MW, Sun QY, Liu H, Zhang AJ, Ye SY, Li SC, Li GH, Yu JQ, Zhang FX, Zhong SL, He GX, Song YF, Fei LS. (1996) Study on the applying bases for artificial breeding of giant panda in captivity. Chinese Science Bulletin , 41(20): 1891-1895
- Chen DY, Du M, Zhou XG, Song XF, Sun QY, Duan CW, Zhuang DZ, Liu H (1996) Mechanism of sperm-egg recognition during subzonal (perivitelline space ) insemination. Chinese Sciense Bulletin 41(18):1559-1563
- Liu H, Chen DY (1994) The role of microfilament in the formation in oocytes of polarity,cleavage furrow and the emission of polar body. Acta Zoologica Sinica.40(4):351-155. Chinese
- Liu H, Chen DY (1994) Dynamic changes of -tubulin during the resumption of meiosis of mouse oocyte. Developmental and reproductive of biology. 3(1):17-22.
Award
- Liu H, Krey LC, Zhang J and Grifo JA (2000) Offspring produced by nuclear transfer can evaluate the developmental competency of the nucleus and cytoplasm of oocytes from old mice. (Second prize poster) Fertility and Sterility, September 2000 Vol.74 No. 3S P-0309, S191. 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
- Liu H, Krey LC, Grifo JA, Blaszczyk A, Zhang J (1999) In vitro development of mouse zygotes following reconstruction by sequential transfer of germinal vesicles and female pronuclei. Program supplement of ASRM/CFAS’1999 P-091 (First prize poster); Fertility and sterility, September 1999, Vol. 72,NO.3,Suppl. 1, page S120. Conjoint Annual Meeting of American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, 1999.
- The award for the great contribution to the “85” Project Breakthrough in Science and Technology presented by State Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China in 1996. Investigation for human embryonic implantation mechanism: association of secretive peptides with embryonic implantation.
News report regarding to the first human embryos from oocyte reconstituted by nuclear transfer
- ASRM News Volume 34 Number 4 Winter 2000 pp.22
- ASRM News Volume 33 Number 4 Winter 1999 pp.17
- Degrees of Engineering – Have Fertility Techniques Overtaken Ethical Concerns? By Erik Parens. The Washington Post Company Sunday, October 18, 1998; Page C05
- NYU trys genes from two moms in one egg. By ANDY SOLTIS. New York Post, October 14, 1998
- Cloning-like technique tried in infertility. The Boston Globe. Saturday, October 10, 1998
- New fertility technique reported. WASHINGTON (AP) AP Headlines Yahoo! News, Friday October 9 5:05 AM EDT
- New Fertility Technique Uses Genes. By The Associated Press. Friday, October 9, 1998; 7:49 p.m. EDT
- New Fertility Technique Seen. WASHINGTON (AP). Friday, October 9, 1998; 2:49 p.m. EDT
- Fertility Experiments Mix Genes Of 2 Women – Reproductive Tests Mix Parts of 2 Women’s Eggs. By Rick Weiss. Washington Post Staff Writer. Friday, October 9, 1998; Page A01
News report regarding to first baby of nuclear transfer in the world
- Exclusive: World’s first baby born with new “3 parent” technique. New Scientist HEALTH 27 September 2016 , updated 27 September 2016
- Birth of Baby With Three Parents’ DNA Marks Success for Banned Technique. New York Times, By Gina Kolata Sept. 27, 2016
- World’s first three-parent IVF baby birth ‘revolutionary’: doctor Reuters OCTOBER 17, 2016 Elly Park
- World’s first baby born with controversial new “three-parent” technique. Independent Ian Johnston 27 September 2016
Contribution
- To establish a national recognized leader, James Grifo, in egg freezing … Runner-up: The NYU Program for In Vitro Fertilization, Reproductive Surgery & Infertility. Best Hospitals 2006 in field of Fertility, New York Magazine, nymag.com.
- To create the first live birth of human being through nuclear transfer technology to prevent transmission of maternal inherited mitochondrial disease and leading world-wide recognized top 10 scientist, John Zhang, named by Nature in 2016
Cover photo
- Fertility and Sterility Vol.71, No.4, April 1999