Ligang Liu, PharmD, MPH

Dr. Ligang Liu is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at Western University of Health Sciences whose research centers on obesity and metabolic disease pharmacotherapy, with complementary expertise in gastrointestinal health, microbiome-related interventions, and real-world medication outcomes. Trained as a clinical pharmacist (PharmD) with a Master of Public Health, he brings a strong methodological foundation in study design, biostatistics, and population health research. His program of scholarship integrates clinical evidence synthesis, health outcomes research, and large-scale data analyses to better understand treatment patterns and barriers to care. Dr. Liu’s work is particularly focused on adolescents and young adults, with the goal of improving equitable access to and utilization of evidence-based anti-obesity medications.

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Liu’s research advances precision therapeutics by leveraging real-world data, clinical pharmacology, and emerging machine learning approaches. His work is motivated by observed variability in patient responses to GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, where gastrointestinal intolerance frequently limits treatment effectiveness. He seeks to identify the physiological, behavioral, and social determinants that drive these differences, with the aim of developing predictive tools to inform personalized treatment strategies. By applying advanced analytic methods to complex clinical and population-level datasets, Dr. Liu’s research contributes to a more data-driven, patient-centered approach to obesity care and metabolic disease management.