De-Quan Li

De-Quan Li, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He holds affiliations with the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. His research focuses on ocular surface biology, dry eye pathogenesis, mucosal immunology, and corneal epithelial stem cell biology. Dr. Li has extensive training including a Ph.D. and M.D. from Shanghai Second Medical University, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

His primary research interests include understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying dry eye disease, corneal inflammation, and tissue bioengineering. He has explored roles of cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and stem cell signaling in ocular surface disorders. Recent studies highlight his work on IL-36 cytokine pathways, autophagy modulation in corneal cells, and single-cell transcriptomics of limbal stem cells.

Dr. Li has authored over 100 publications in journals like Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science and PloS ONE, focusing on topics such as corneal barrier disruption, inflammatory signaling, and stem cell-based therapies. His NIH-funded research (R01 EY023298) investigates pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis mechanisms. Collaborations extend to developing biomaterials for corneal regeneration and exploring immunomodulatory therapies for ocular surface diseases.

Key contributions include identifying molecular signatures of corneal stem/progenitor cells and demonstrating therapeutic potential of compounds like trehalose and butyrate against inflammation. His work bridges basic science discoveries to translational applications in ocular surface repair and disease treatment.