Pengfei Liang
Assistant Professor
Physiology and Cell Biology
Academic contact
Academic information
- Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Research interests
- TMEM16 Family Proteins
- Thrombosis
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Hypertension
- Cardiac Dysfunction
About
Biography
I am an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. My research focuses on understanding how specialized proteins in cell membranes help control calcium signaling and the movement of lipids within cells—processes that are essential for normal cell function and overall health.
My current research aims to better understand a group of proteins known as the TMEM16 family, which play an important role in how cells respond to calcium and physical forces. I also investigate the interactions between TMEM16 proteins and other Ca2+-permeable proteins, such as the TRPV4 and PIEZO1 channels. When these proteins do not work correctly, they can contribute to serious health problems such as blood clots, sickle cell disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease. By studying how these proteins are turned on and off and how they interact with other cell components, my lab hopes to identify new ways to target them with medications. This work may lead to improved treatments in the future by helping doctors better control blood flow, heart function, and blood cell behavior in patients with cardiovascular and blood-related conditions.
I have authored and co-authored multiple research articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and regularly share my findings at national and international scientific conferences.
I value the strong culture of scientific collaboration and innovation at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and appreciate the opportunity to work alongside colleagues across disciplines. I am passionate about advancing basic and translational research that deepens our understanding of human physiology and supports the development of new therapeutic strategies to improve patient care.
Ion channels and phospholipid scramblases of the TMEM16 family are critical regulators of calcium signaling, membrane lipid dynamics, and cellular physiology. Dysregulation of these proteins contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including thrombosis, sickle cell disease, hypertension, and cardiac dysfunction. Using multidisciplinary approaches that integrate biophysics, cell biology, and animal models, our laboratory aims to elucidate how TMEM16 family proteins are activated and regulated, their roles in pathophysiology, and how these pathways can be therapeutically targeted.
Credentials
Education
- PhD
- University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Postdoctoral Training
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
Research
Research interests
- TMEM16 Family Proteins
- Thrombosis
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Hypertension
- Cardiac Dysfunction
Research Techniques and Approaches
- Electrophysiology
- Optical imaging
- Mouse models
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry and biophysics
- Blood coagulation assays
We are particularly interested in the following directions:
Molecular mechanisms governing TMEM16 family activation and regulation.
We investigate the structure–function relationships and regulatory mechanisms of the TMEM16 family, as well as related superfamily members such as TMEM63/OSCA proteins, with an emphasis on calcium- and mechanically driven gating, lipid scrambling, and ion conduction.
Physiological and pathological roles of TMEM16 family proteins and their functional coupling with calcium-permeable channels.
We study how TMEM16 proteins functionally interact with other calcium-permeable channels, particularly the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1, to regulate membrane phospholipid dynamics, cell signaling, and disease-relevant cellular behaviors in red blood cells, endothelial cells, and cardiovascular tissues.
Therapeutic targeting of TMEM16 family proteins and associated signaling pathways.
We aim to develop and characterize small-molecule modulators targeting TMEM16 proteins and their interacting partners for the treatment of cardiovascular and hematological disorders, including but not limited to thrombosis, sickle cell disease, hypertension, and heart disease.