Overview
Dr. Yongmei Liu is a genetic epidemiologist with appointments in Cardiology/Medicine and Neurology. Her primary interests are to better understand the molecular mechanisms of aging-related inflammatory diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease by studying genome, the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles. The combination of an unbiased genome-wide search in large sample sizes of disease relevant tissues/cells with longitudinal and randomized clinical trial designs, followed up by in vitro and in vivo experiments, is providing novel biomarkers for risk prediction and new insights into mechanisms that are involved in inflammatory diseases.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Medicine
·
2020 - Present
Medicine, Cardiology,
Medicine
Professor in Population Health Sciences
·
2021 - Present
Population Health Sciences,
Basic Science Departments
Member of Duke Molecular Physiology Institute
·
2018 - Present
Duke Molecular Physiology Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Potential Mechanisms and Hypotheses for Pathogenic Microorganisms Triggering Kawasaki Disease.
Journal Article Clin Rev Allergy Immunol · December 22, 2025 Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limiting systemic vasculitis of early childhood and remains the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed nations. Despite decades of investigation, its etiology and immunopathogenesis are still not fully ... Full text Link to item CiteEpigenetic Aging Clocks and Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes: Results From the MESA.
Journal Article J Am Heart Assoc · December 16, 2025 BACKGROUND: DNA methylation-based aging clocks capture biological aging processes and may improve cardiovascular risk prognostication. However, evidence about epigenetic aging clocks, incident outcomes, and interactions with clinical biomarkers such as cor ... Full text Link to item CiteAutoantibody reactome analysis reveals diagnostic biomarkers and molecular classification for relapsing polychondritis.
Journal Article Ann Rheum Dis · December 2025 OBJECTIVES: The lack of effective biomarkers for relapsing polychondritis (RP) poses a significant challenge in its early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to identify novel autoantibodies and elucidate the pathogenesis and molecular heterogeneity ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Subclinical Vascular Contributions to Alzheimer's Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Multisite Study of AD
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wake Forest University · 2024 - 2029T helper cells in development of chronic inflammation and multi-morbidity
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · 2023 - 2028Common mechanistic biomarkers of vascular and neuro-degeneration
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2023 - 2027View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Johns Hopkins Unversity, Bloomberg School of Public Health ·
2004
Ph.D.
Bengbu Medical College (China) ·
1991
M.D.