USC Dornsife cellular physiologist Emily Liman named to National Geographic’s “33” list of global changemakers

Emily Liman, Harold Dornsife Chair in Neurosciences and professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has been named to National Geographic’s inaugural “33” list of global changemakers. The honor recognizes her pioneering research in sensory biology, including the discovery of a new type of protein that functions as a receptor for sour taste.

Liman’s lab focuses on understanding how the body senses chemicals in the environment, particularly through taste. In 2018, her team identified the receptor responsible for detecting sour taste, known as OTOP1. More recently, Liman’s research revealed that the same receptor also responds to ammonium chloride — an ingredient found in some foods, like Nordic salty licorice, but also a substance that signals potential toxicity in nature.

The discovery that OTOP proteins, which are widely distributed throughout the body, function as proton channels has implications beyond taste and may affect how we understand and treat diseases of balance, metabolism and even cancer.

The National Geographic 33 list honors changemakers from around the world who are tackling humanity’s greatest challenges. Liman joins an eclectic group of honorees including Patagonia founder and environmentalist Yvon Chouinard, ocean advocate and endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, and mental health activist Selena Gomez.

“Emily Liman is both a deep thinker and adventurous explorer who exemplifies USC Dornsife’s emphasis on curiosity and discovery,” said USC Dornsife Interim Dean Moh El-Naggar. “Her discoveries are field-changing and have the potential to inform new therapeutic approaches for disease.”

To see the full list of National Geographic 33 honorees, visit NatGeo.com/NG33.