Rate My Professor Sumei Liu

Sumei Liu is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, specializing in gastrointestinal physiology. She earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Cell Biology from The Ohio State University in 2002, an M.S. in Physiology from Beijing Normal University in 1993, and a B.S. in Biology from Beijing Normal University in 1990. Since joining the university, Liu has focused her research on the effects of stress on gastrointestinal function, investigating mechanisms in functional gastrointestinal disorders, enteric nervous system modulation, intestinal motility, secretion, epithelial barrier permeability, and fibrosis. Her work explores the roles of stress-related peptides like corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), neurotrophic factors, inflammation, and mechanical stress in gut pathophysiology. Liu has integrated research into her teaching for over 20 years, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in course-embedded projects and independent studies.

Liu teaches a range of courses including BIO 312/313 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, BIO 424/525 Human Endocrinology, BIO 458/558 Comparative Animal Physiology, BIO 491 Capstone, BIO 499 Independent Research, and BIO 719 Advanced Human Physiology II. She has authored or co-authored over 50 publications in leading journals. Key works include "Mechanical stress, connective tissue growth factor, and intestinal fibrosis" (American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 2024), the editorial "Advances in research on the role of inflammation in gut functional disorders" (Frontiers in Physiology, 2023), "Effects of stress-related peptides on chloride secretion in the mouse proximal colon" (Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 2021), "Neurotrophic factors in enteric physiology and pathophysiology" (Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 2018), and "Endogenous CRF in rat large intestine mediates motor and secretory responses to stress" (Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 2016). Recent presentations feature collaborations with students on sex differences in stress-induced colonic permeability at the Federation of Neurogastroenterology & Motility Meeting (2024) and CRF receptors in epithelial permeability at the American Physiology Summit (2024).