The Su laboratory’s studies  integrate HCC-associated somatic mutations, DNA methylation, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragment characteristics, and other molecular features to improve the detection of low-abundance tumor-derived DNA. Current translational efforts focus on using liquid biopsy to detect HCC through surveillance, assess early treatment response, predict recurrence risk, and identify recurrent disease earlier than conventional clinical approaches.

HBV genetic liquid biopsy and functional cure. Dr. Su’s laboratory applies HBV-targeted NGS and molecular assays to characterize circulating HBV DNA, with particular emphasis on integrated HBV DNA (iDNA), HBV–host junction sequences (HBV-JS), and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Her group has applied ChimericSeq, a computational platform for identifying and characterizing viral–host chimeric sequences, together with HBV-targeted NGS to investigate HBV integration in liver tissue and liquid biopsy samples. Current studies aim to establish circulating biomarkers derived from iDNA and cccDNA to monitor HBV treatment response and assess functional cure.

A central theme of Dr. Su’s research is translating molecular discoveries into robust, clinically applicable biomarker assays. Her laboratory has developed and applied technologies for the preferential isolation of fragmented cfDNA, ultra-short-amplicon assays for low-abundance DNA targets, standardized urine collection and processing procedures, HBV-targeted sequencing methods, and analytical approaches for liquid biopsy biomarker development and validation.

The long-term goal of her research is to establish noninvasive molecular tools for liver cancer detection and HBV virology, enabling earlier HCC detection, more precise assessment of treatment response and recurrence, and improved evaluation of HBV persistence and functional cure.