围绕视网膜发育和视网膜变性疾病，从分子遗传、生化与细胞、斑马鱼模型等多个层次开展了系统的基因功能和病理机制研究，阐释了NRL、PRPF31、RP2、LCA5、CERKL等多个致病基因的生理功能及其突变导致视网膜发育缺陷和视网膜变性的分子机制。

代表性论文：

1. Li J^#, Liu F^#, Lv Y^#, Sun K, Zhao Y, Reilly J, Zhang Y, Yu S, Tu J, Liu X, Qin Y, Huang Y, Gao P, Jia D, Chen X, Han Y, Shu X, Luo D, Tang Z*, Liu M*. Prpf31 is essential for the survival and differentiation of retinal progenitor cells by modulating alternative splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab003.

2. Qu Z^#, Yimer TA^#, Xie S, Wong F, Yu S, Liu X, Han S, Ma J, Lu Z, Hu X, Qin Y, Huang Y, Lv Y, Li J, Tang Z, Liu F*, Liu M*. Knocking out lca5 in zebrafish causes cone-rod dystrophy due to impaired outer segment protein trafficking. BBA-MOL BASIS DIS 2019 Oct 1;1865(10):2694-2705

3. Liu F^#, Chen J^#, Yu S^#, Raghupathy RK, Liu X, Qin Y, Li C, Huang M, Liao S, Wang J, Zou J, Shu X, Tang Z^*, Liu M^*. Knockout of RP2 decreases GRK1 and rod transducin subunits and leads to photoreceptor degeneration in zebrafish. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24(16):4648-59.

4. Liu F^#, Qin Y^#, Yu S^#, Soares DC, Yang L, Weng J, Li C, Gao M, Lu Z, Hu X, Liu X, Jiang T, Liu JY, Shu X, Tang Z, Liu M*. Pathogenic mutations in retinitis pigmentosa 2 predominantly result in loss of RP2 protein stability in humans and zebrafish. J Biol Chem 2017; 292(15):6225-39.

5. Chen J^#, Liu F^#, Li H^#, Archacki S, Gao M, Liu Y, Liao S, Huang M, Wang J, Yu S, Li C, Tang Z^*, Liu M^*. pVHL interacts with Ceramide kinase like (CERKL) protein and ubiquitinates it for oxygen dependent proteasomal degradation. Cell Signal 2015; 27(11):2314-23.

6. Wang J^#, Liu Y^#, Liu F^#, Huang C, Han S, Lv Y, Liu CJ, Zhang S, Qin Y, Ling L, Gao M, Yu S, Li C, Huang M, Liao S, Hu X, Lu Z, Liu X, Jiang T, Tang Z, Zhang H, Guo AY*, Liu M*. Loss-of-function Mutation in PMVK Causes Autosomal Dominant Disseminated Superficial Porokeratosis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24226.

7. Qin Y^#, Gao P, Yu S, Li J, Huang Y, Jia D, Tang Z, Li P*, Liu F*, Liu M. A large deletion spanning PITX2 and PANCR in a Chinese family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome. Mol Vis 2020; 26:670-8.

8. Qin Y^#, Liu F^#, Yu S, Yang L, Gao M, Tang Z, Guo AY, Zhang M, Li P*, Liu M. Identification of a novel NRL mutation in a Chinese family with retinitis pigmentosa by whole-exome sequencing. Eye 2017. p. 815-7.

9. Liu F^#, Huang Y^#, Liu L^#, Liang B, Qu Z, Huang G, Li C, Tian R, Jiang Z, Liu F, Yu X, Huang Y, Liu J, Tang Z*. Identification of a novel NOG mutation in a Chinese family with proximal symphalangism. Clin Chim Acta 2014; 429:129-33.

10. Liu F^#, Li P^#, Liu Y^#, Li W, Wong F, Du R, Wang L, Li C, Jiang F, Tang Z, Liu M*. Novel compound heterozygous mutations in MYO7A in a Chinese family with Usher syndrome type 1. Mol Vis 2013; 19:695-701.

11. Wang Q^#, Liu F^#, Xing Y, Wei X, Li H, Zhang S, Liu J, Wang Q, Tang Z*, Liu M. Mutation c.359_363delGTATTinsATAC in the COL4A5 causes Alport syndrome in a Chinese family. Gene 2013; 512(2):482-5.