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Li-Qun (Andrew) Gu, PhD

Professor, Bioengineering
 Office Location: W2023 Lafferre Hall
Office Phone: 573-882-2057
GuL@missouri.edu

Research Interests

Recent translational research of Dr. Gu lab can be found in this YouTube video.

Research Description

Dr. Li-Qun (Andrew) Gu is a Professor of Biomedical Biological and Chemical Engineering and Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. He is leading an interdisciplinary laboratory that has a long-term vision: integrating biomolecular engineering with nanobiotechnology to explore life science problems and to develop sophisticated molecular diagnostic tools for personalized medicine. Dr. Gu is an awardee of NSF CAREER. Supported by the NIH grant and Coulter Translational Program, he is developing ultrasensitive single molecule technology for disease biomarker detection. His lab is working on nanopore-based single-molecule technology for rapid, label-free and low-cost DNA sequencing and various genetic, epigenetic, and proteomic detections. The new generation of programmable nanopore biosensors is being combined with smart polymers and microfludics to create robust chip device for medical diagnosis, treatment, and high-throughput screening at the molecular level. Recently, His lab proposed a robust nanopore sensor for differentiating and quantifying cancer-associated microRNAs in human blood samples, an approach with the potential in non-invasive and cost-effective cancer detection (Nature Nanotechnology 2011, ACS Nano 2013, ACS Nano 2014, JACS 2015, Nature Communications 2017). MicroRNAs and a series of epigenetically modified gene are potential biomarkers for molecular diagnostic of cancers. This research is being expanded to various RNA detections in life science, plant science, agriculture, food safety detection, and environmental engineering.

Professional Background

  • Full Professor, 2015-present, Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri
  • Associate Professor, 2010-2015, Biological Engineering, University of Missouri
  • Assistant Professor, 2004-2010, Biological Engineering, University of Missouri
  • Postdoctoral Research, 1997-1999, University of Western Australia, 1999-2014, Texas A&M University
  • PhD, 1991-1996, Physics (Biophysics), Nankai University

Selected Publications

Main Publications can be seen on Google Scholar.


Published by Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, 1500 Research Park Drive, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-7588 Email: mailto:dalton@missouri.edu