Lei Liu, M.S. Research Technician III
Lei Liu, M.S., joined the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) at Children’s National in July 2025 as a Research Technician III. In this position, Lei supports a research team focused on studying the impact of prenatal maternal substance use on human placental development, placental small extracellular vesicles, and the differentiation and function of placental trophoblasts. He completed his undergraduate studies in Bioengineering at Anyang Institute of Technology and earned a master’s degree in Biology and Medicine from Zhengzhou University. Lei’s academic training sparked a strong motivation to apply scientific research to solve real-world problems and create meaningful impact, particularly in the field of maternal-fetal health. Before joining DBI, he gained
hands-on research experience at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, where he was involved in projects investigating placental development and function. These experiences strengthened Lei’s interest in translational research with real-world clinical impact. As a Research Technician III, he is excited to apply his scientific background to support high-impact research aimed at improving maternal and infant health. Lei looks forward to contributing to the innovative work of the DBI team.
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: fetalbrain@childrensnational.org
Department: MRI Lab