ISL Affiliate Dr. Leo Liu Receives Prestigious International Young Investigator Award

The Institute for Successful Longevity is proud to celebrate Dr. Z. Leonardo Liu, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and ISL Faculty Affiliate, for receiving the 2024 Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award, a highly prestigious international recognition in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis.

Awarded by the editorial board of Seminars in Thrombosis & Hemostasis, this distinction honors emerging global leaders whose work advances the scientific understanding of blood clotting mechanisms. Dr. Liu was one of only six recipients worldwide and the only awardee from the United States to receive this honor in April 2025.

Dr. Liu’s cutting-edge research investigates the biofluid mechanics of living fluids, particularly focusing on how hemodynamics influence blood clot formation at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. His interdisciplinary approach integrates mechanobiology, microfluidic experimentation, and AI-powered multiscale computational modeling to uncover mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and hematologic conditions, including heart attacks and strokes, the leading causes of death in the U.S.

In his award-winning work, Dr. Liu presented findings on how red blood cells promote tension-dependent activation and cleavage of von Willebrand factor (VWF) under flows, revealing overlooked microrheological effects. His research holds the potential to transform diagnostics and therapeutic strategies in vascular medicine.

“This recognition encourages me to continue advancing the emerging field of rheo-biology in thrombosis and hemostasis,” Dr. Liu shared. “I am deeply honored and grateful to the editorial board of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, to my mentors, collaborators, and to my family for their unwavering support.”

Dr. Liu currently serves as Co-Chair of the Biorheology Scientific and Standardization Committee at the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH), and continues to be a key contributor in the intersection of mechanics, biology, and computation.

To read the full announcement, visit: Thieme Journal Announcement