Zhijun Li

Zhijun Li, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Saint Joseph's University. His research integrates computational chemistry, bioinformatics, and AI-driven approaches to advance drug discovery and protein engineering, with a focus on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and allosteric modulation.

Education:

• BS, Tsinghua University
• MS, Tsinghua University
• PhD, Vanderbilt University

Research Interests:
Dr. Li's work spans three core areas: (1) Allosteric regulation of GPCRs, particularly designing positive allosteric modulators for GLP-1R to treat diabetes and obesity; (2) AI-based protein design, leveraging cutting-edge tools to engineer proteins/antibodies for therapeutic targets like T-cell receptors; and (3) Computational molecular design, applying bioinformatics to solve biomedical challenges collaboratively.

Publication Trends: His recent articles emphasize GPCR allosteric modulation, AI-driven drug discovery, and antiviral therapeutics, reflecting a trajectory toward translational applications in metabolic and infectious diseases.

Scientific Awards & Grants:

• W.W. Smith Charitable Trust (PI): "Formyl peptide receptor 2 modulators for heart disease" ($114,777, 2023)
• NIH/NIAID R01 (Co-I): "Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for HIV" (sub-award $299,192, 2021-2024)
• NIH/NIGMS R15 (PI): "Common allosteric GPCR binding sites" ($527,500, 2020-2023)

Labs & Teams: Dr. Li directs the Li Lab, relocated to SC 113H at Saint Joseph's University, and collaborates with the West Center for Computational Chemistry and Drug Design, fostering interdisciplinary computational research.