Changwei Li

Dr. Changwei Li is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia (2016–2020) and Tulane University (2020–2024). He earned a Ph.D. in Genetic Epidemiology from Tulane University (2015), followed by postdoctoral training there in cardiovascular and kidney disease epidemiology. His medical training includes preventive medicine from Peking University and a residency in alternative medicine at Beijing Shijitan Hospital.

His research focuses on gene-environment interactions in cardiometabolic diseases and chronic kidney disease (CKD), emphasizing precision health. Key projects include a large-scale NIDDK-funded genomic study on mitochondrial dysfunction in CKD progression (involving 5,000 CRIC patients) and a metabolomics study of 1,500 African-ancestry CKD patients to identify APOL1 mutation effects. His work bridges genomic mechanisms and lifestyle factors, such as dietary interventions and metabolite analysis.

Dr. Li’s publications highlight metabolomics applications, gene-diet interactions, and CKD progression. Recent studies explore novel metabolites linked to blood pressure, mitochondrial dysfunction in kidney disease, and the impact of BDNF polymorphisms on cognitive outcomes in diabetes. He is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and collaborates with institutions like Tulane and the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC).

His advising and grants emphasize large-scale cohort studies, genomic innovation, and translational research. He directs interdisciplinary teams investigating precision health strategies for cardiometabolic and renal disorders.