Zitao Liu, M.D., Ph.D. '03, FACOG

Zitao Liu, MD, PhD, FACOG, is a distinguished reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist. As a board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Liu is an advocate for mild stimulation in assisted reproductive technology (ART). He is dedicated to offering personalized treatment plans by integrating his extensive bench research expertise with broad clinical experience.

Dr. Liu possesses a profound understanding of reproductive medicine at the molecular and cellular levels. After earning his medical degree from Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences and completing two years of faculty practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Liu pursued a PhD at Wayne State University, MI, where he dedicated five years to studying the regulation of pre-implantation embryonic development and trophoblast (placental cell) differentiation. This extensive research enhanced his expertise in cell cycle regulation, cellular proliferation and differentiation, and intracellular signaling pathways at the molecular biology level, forming the foundation for his innovative Mild-Stim protocols.

Furthermore, Dr. Liu conducted postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University, focusing on the uterine response during embryo implantation. This research deepened his understanding of uterine receptivity and the intricate dialogue between the embryo and uterus, which has informed his advanced management of recurrent pregnancy loss and embryo transfer failure.

Following his residency training in New York City, Dr. Liu served for four years as an assistant professor and attending physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Boston before returning to Manhattan to practice infertility treatment at New Hope Fertility Center. Over his career, he has performed more than 5,000 oocyte retrievals, 2,000 embryo transfers, and 500 hysteroscopies. His technical expertise includes advanced and specialized procedures such as oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia, transabdominal oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, and vaginoscopy.

Dr. Liu’s extensive research and clinical experience have driven his contributions to innovative fertility solutions. He developed the Mild-Stim protocol, participated the research team that achieved the groundbreaking first live birth via nuclear transfer in oocytes, and created neural network-based AI tools to assist in controlled ovarian stimulation.

Dr. Liu founded Future Reproductive Medicine in California, bringing over two decades of accumulated expertise in reproductive medicine. Guided by the philosophy of “learning from nature and adapting to circumstances,” Dr. Liu provides infertility treatments and fertility preservation with a thoughtful, patient-centered approach.

When Dr. Liu is not dedicating his time to his patients, he is an avid long-distance runner, excelling in both marathons and ultramarathons. He has completed full marathons (26.2 miles) in iconic cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, Houston, Las Vegas, Changchun and Qingyuan, among others. He has also conquered ultramarathons (100 miles), including the Old Dominion, Grindstone, and Doi Inthanon races.

For Dr. Liu, long-distance running is more than a sport—it has shaped his character and taught him valuable life lessons. He believes that we alone have the power to define the length, breadth, and quality of our personal journey.