Changchun Liu Receives 2016 W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Research Award

Changchun Liu, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, is the recipient of a one-year, $100,000 W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Research Award for his proposal titled, “A New Approach for Concurrent Detection of HIV Co-Infections.”

Liu’s research interest lies in the interdisciplinary integration of microfluidics, microfabrication, mechanical engineering, biology, chemistry for biomedical applications, with a focus on point of care diagnostics for global health. Specifically, this proposal aims to study and develop a novel, simple, rapid, affordable, point of care molecular diagnostic system for multiplex pathogen detection (i.e., HCV, HBV) without a need for expensive instrument and well-trained personnel.

“As a mechanical engineer, it’s an honor and privilege to both win the award and collaborate with the extremely talented HIV/AIDS researchers at the Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR),” Liu said. “Support from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust will help me establish my independent research career and further develop a successful independently funded HIV/AIDS-related project.”

The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation established by William Wikoff Smith. The Trust is specifically focused on areas involving basic needs for food, clothing and shelter; supplementing higher education scholarship programs; supporting maritime education/maritime heritage preservation; and basic medical research primarily in Heart Disease, Cancer and AIDS.

To learn more about Changchun Liu and his research, visit his research website.