Prof. Liao’s research focuses on developing novel quantitative FRET(qFRET) technology for basic and translational research, host–virus interaction, inflammation, and diabetes. Prof. Liao joined the University of California at Riverside as a founding faculty of the Bioengineering Department from the Scripps Research Institute, where he discovered the human sweet receptor genes. Before that, Dr. Liao joined the Genomic Institute of Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) as the Founding Scientist of the GPCR platform, where Dr. Liao led an HTS that resulted in the discovery of S1P1-specific agonist(SEW2871), subsequently leading to the FDA-approved drugs, ozanimod from BMS/Celgene/ Receptos, siponimod from Novartis and estrasimod from Pfizer. His work also led to the award of Scripps Molecular Screening Center from the NIH Roadmap Blueprint Plan.
Prof. Liao was the first to discover the orally available GLP1 small molecule agonist, the human sweet receptor and SUMOylation E3 ligase PIAS family. Prof. Liao is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and his work has led to more than 5700 citations and 32 patents.