Kuo Du, PhD

Professional Background

Dr. Kuo Du is an Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center whose research focuses on the mechanisms by which aging and cellular senescence contribute to chronic liver and metabolic diseases. His laboratory investigates how age-related alterations in liver metabolism, mitochondrial function, nutrition and micronutrient homeostasis, and cellular stress responses drive the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-associated liver disease, fibrosis, and liver cancer.

Dr. Du’s research integrates mechanistic studies in genetically engineered and dietary mouse models with cellular models, human biospecimens, transcriptomics, single-cell approaches, and multi-omics analyses. His work includes the development of molecular signatures of liver senescence and aging to define their clinical relevance and identify individuals at increased risk for progressive liver disease. Through these translational approaches, his laboratory seeks to understand how aging intersects with metabolism and nutrient homeostasis to promote chronic disease and to translate these discoveries into biomarkers and targeted therapies. His research is currently supported by an NIH/NIDDK K01 Career Development Award.

• PhD, Toxicology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
• BS, Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Liver Pathophysiology, Duke University, Durham, NC

• American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Member, 2017 - Present

• Targeting Hepatocyte Senescence to Improve NAFLD, NIDDK, PI

• Du Kuo. 2024. Aging promotes metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by inducing ferroptotic stress. NATURE AGING
• Du Kuo, Umbaugh DavidS., Ren Niansheng, Diehl AnnaMae. 2026. Cellular senescence in liver diseases: From molecular drivers to therapeutic targeting. Journal of Hepatology, 84 (1), 194-212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2025.08.021
• Umbaugh DavidS., Diehl AnnaMae, Du Kuo. 2026. Redefining senescence through hepatocyte fate changes in liver diseases. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 37 (4), 304-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2025.08.003
• Du Kuo, Umbaugh DavidS., Wang Liuyang, Jun JiHye, Dutta RajeshK., Oh SehHoon, Ren Niansheng, Zhang Qiaojuan, Ko DennisC., Ferreira Ana, Hill Jon, Gao Guannan, Pullen StevenS., Jain Vaibhav, Gregory Simon, Abdelmalek ManalF., Diehl AnnaMae. 2025. Targeting senescent hepatocytes for treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and multi-organ dysfunction. Nature Communications, 16 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57616-w
• Du Kuo. 2024. A systemic effect for liver senescence. NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
• Du Kuo. 2024. Plasticity, heterogeneity, and multifunctionality of hepatic stellate cells in liver pathophysiology. HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
• Du Kuo. 2022. TARGETING YAP-MEDIATED HEPATIC STELLATE CELL DEATH SUSCEPTIBILITY AND SENESCENCE FOR TREATMENT OF LIVER FIBROSIS. HEPATOLOGY
• Du Kuo. 2023. Targeting senescent hepatocytes using the thrombomodulin-PAR1 inhibitor vorapaxar ameliorates NAFLD progression. HEPATOLOGY
• Dutta RajeshKumar, Du Kuo, Ren Niansheng, Umbaugh DavidS, Oh Seh-Hoon, Wang Liuyang, Kalsotra Auinash, Blackshear PerryJ, Diehl AnnaMae. 2026. Zinc-dependent RNA-binding protein controls hepatocyte senescence and recovery from alcohol-related liver failure. Gut, gutjnl-2025-337019. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2025-337019
• Ren Niansheng, Wang Liuyang, Dutta RajeshK., Umbaugh DavidS., Zhang Qiaojuan, Oh SehHoon, Ko DennisC., Song Ming, Diehl AnnaMae, Du Kuo. Disrupted Mitochondrial Copper Homeostasis Promotes Ferroptotic Stress, Senescence and MASLD Progression. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.15.731916