Dr. Li’s research focuses on studying how bioactive nutrients or compounds in functional foods prevent chronic human diseases including cancer and metabolic disorders through regulation of epigenetic mechanisms and gut microbiome. Dr. Li is particularly interested in how nutrition and diet influence pregnant women’s health and reduce the risk of certain diseases in the babies later in life. Dr. Li strives to apply her research in human studies that eventually improves community health and benefits public welfare in the future.
M.D. Shanxi Medical College, China (Clinical Medicine)
M.S. Dalian Medical College, China (Pathology)
Ph.D. Peking Union Medical College, China (Oncology)
1. USDA NIFA Award (PI) 01/01/2021-12/31/2025
Effects of maternal soybean diet and early-life gut microbial development on long-term health consequences of the progenies
2. NIH K01(PI) 03/01/2017-08/31/2022
Epigenetic mechanisms of maternal diets in human health and disease prevention
3. MU Tier 1 funding (PI) 01/20/2021-06/20/2022
Analysis the link of transcriptomic profiling changes in adipose tissues to maternal bioactive dietary compound-induced transgenerational obesity intervention
4. NIH/NIDDK NORC-Pilot/Feasibility Grant Program (PI) 6/26/2017-05/30/2019
The epigenetic effects of maternal bioactive dietary compound on transgenerational weight control: a new approach to early obesity interference
5. NIH/NCI R03 (PI) 092013-082016
Maternal epigenetic dietary effects on early breast cancer prevention
6. Junior Faculty Development Grant (UAB) 062011-052012
Epigenetics of soybean genistein and broccoli sulforaphane in breasT cancer prevention
7. AICR Post-Doctoral Grant Award (PI) 012010-122011
Epigenetics of genistein and/or soy isoflavone in breast cancer prevention