Dan Li

Dan Li is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford's Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics (DPAG) within the Medical Sciences Division. She is affiliated with the Paterson Group and Herring Group, and her research is supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Dan Li obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Medicine in China and completed her PhD at Chonbuk National University in South Korea in 2003. After her PhD, she joined the University of Oxford as a postdoctoral researcher in Professor David Paterson's lab. She progressed from Departmental Lecturer to University Research Lecturer before being honored with the title of Associate Professor in 2023.

Dan Li's primary research focuses on how the autonomic nervous system affects heart function in both healthy and diseased states. She developed a primary culture system of sympathetic ganglion neurons, using cellular and molecular approaches to unravel the complexities of various signaling cascades, including those involving calcium, nitric oxide, natriuretic peptide, cAMP, and cGMP, within the cytosol and sub-organelles such as mitochondria and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. To elucidate the impact of these signaling pathways on neuronal and cardiac function, she employs a range of cutting-edge techniques, including genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) imaging using fluorescence microscopy.

Furthermore, Dan Li pioneers the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into sympathetic neurons and cardiac myocytes, employing co-culture systems that faithfully replicate key physiological responses observed in mammalian systems. Her objective is to develop advanced model systems, encompassing both 2D and 3D organoids, using stem cells. These models are poised to enhance our comprehension of how the nervous system modulates heart function in various diseases. Moreover, exploiting these models for drug screening and evaluating cell toxicity in iPSC models represents a promising avenue. By leveraging innovative technologies such as optical mapping and Multielectrode array (MEA) systems, she aims to shed light on the complex mechanisms underlying neurocardiac regulation in human health and disease.

Her recent publications span from 2015 to 2025, with a clear focus on neurocardiology, cyclic nucleotide signaling, and stem cell applications. The articles demonstrate a progression from basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications, with significant emphasis on signaling pathways in sympathetic neurons and their impact on cardiac function, particularly in conditions like hypertension and heart failure. Her work consistently integrates advanced imaging techniques with molecular and cellular approaches to address complex questions in neurocardiac regulation.

• Associate Professor title (2023)
• Bayliss Starling Prize Lecture (2023)

Dan Li has developed specialized techniques for measuring intracellular calcium concentration in gene-transferred neurons. Her lab employs co-culture systems that replicate physiological responses observed in mammalian systems, aiming to develop advanced 2D and 3D organoid model systems. These models enhance understanding of neurocardiac regulation and have potential applications in drug screening and toxicity evaluation. Her research continues to push the boundaries of neurocardiology with increasing focus on translational applications of basic science discoveries to improve understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.