Memorial service for Rugao Liu is Saturday A memorial service for Rugao Liu will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 1400 24th Ave. S., Grand Forks. Children are welcome; the church will provide childcare for the duration of the service. Dr. Liu, a neuroscientist and molecular biologist in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, died Sunday, April 13, at a hospital in Qingdao, China, after a brief, valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 45. Dr. Liu was a gifted, productive, and widely published researcher who had achieved notable recognition following his molecular-level research of degenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Among other advanced areas of inquiry, Dr. Liu was studying ways to regenerate nerve cells—neurons—damaged by these degenerative diseases. Dr. Liu, who came to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences in September 2004, was the recipient of two highly competitive and very prestigious R01 research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Liu had five similar grants in the works at the time of his death. He launched his scientific career in the People’s Republic of China, where he earned degrees in marine zoology and biochemistry. Dr. Liu got his Ph.D. in molecular biology and free radical chemistry at the University of Iowa School of Medicine in 1996. Rugao Liu is survived by his wife, Chun “Nancy” Luo; their two year-old daughter Michelle; and his son David by a previous marriage. A trust fund is being set up for the benefit of Dr. Liu's daughter Michelle. For more information about the trust fund or to make contributions, please contact Edward Carlson, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stop 9037, 777-2101 or 777-2600, ecarlson@medicine.nodak.edu. Please make your checks payable to "Michelle Liu Trust Fund." -- Shelley Pohlman, Admin Sec, Office of Public Affairs, spohlman@medicine.nodak.edu, 701-777-4305