Tolulope Saliu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: Natural Sciences Building, Room 340
Email: tsaliu@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2571
Professional Profile
Dr. Tolulope P. Saliu joined the Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at West Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor in 2025. He received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, and a Master of Science in Molecular Life Sciences from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, as a Commonwealth Scholar. He completed his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Hiroshima University, Japan, and pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Kentucky, where his work focused on intercellular communication in skeletal muscle.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Saliu serves as the instructor of record for Basic and Contemporary Biology I, Cancer Biology, Immunology, and Cell Biology at West Texas A&M University. He also serves as an academic advisor to pre-dental students, providing guidance on course selection, research opportunities, and career planning. Prior to joining WTAMU, Dr. Saliu taught a wide array of advanced courses, including Molecular Biology of the Gene, General Biochemistry, Enzymology, Cell Metabolism, Genetic Engineering, Molecular Nutrition, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Cancer Research, and Bioinformatics. He has also mentored students through programs such as the Markey STRONG Scholars Program, fostering interest and skills in cancer research.
Dr. Saliu is an active member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and participates in departmental and institutional initiatives that support student learning, research engagement, and professional development
Research and Creative Activity
The Saliu Lab focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms that drive lifestyle-associated diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The lab integrates cell culture, animal models, and multi-omic data with advanced computational methods to identify therapeutic targets and circulating biomarkers of disease progression. Current projects investigate MASLD by combining blood and liver single-cell data to determine how circulating cell states reflect intrahepatic remodeling. The Saliu Lab also applies machine learning, network-based analyses, and molecular simulations to discover and evaluate potential therapeutics for metabolic diseases and their complications.