معرفی
Dr. Hong Li is a Professor in the Department of Structural Biology at Van Andel Institute (VAI). She leads the Hong Li Laboratory, focusing on structural mechanisms of RNA-centric processes using cryo-EM and CRISPR technologies. Her work addresses ribosome synthesis, CRISPR-Cas systems, and RNA therapeutics, with applications in cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Education: B.S. in Physics (Sichuan University), Ph.D. in Biophysics (University of Rochester). Postdoctoral training at CalTech and Brookhaven National Lab. Previously held the Pfeiffer Family Endowed Professorship for Cancer Research at Florida State University, where she directed the Institute of Molecular Biophysics (2021–2024).
Research Interests: Structural biology of RNA machinery, CRISPR-Cas9/CRISPR-Csm/Cmr systems, ribosome biogenesis, and translational regulation. Develops next-generation genome editing tools and nucleic acid-based diagnostics. Her lab’s cryo-EM studies reveal molecular mechanisms underlying RNA-driven processes in health and disease.
Awards: AAAS Fellow, Associate Editor of The CRISPR Journal. Key achievements include structural insights into Cas9 catalytic states, ribosome pseudouridylation effects, and CRISPR-based viral detection systems.
Lab Team: Includes postdoctoral fellows (Hemant Goswami, Mitchell Roth), graduate students (Renee Hoffman), and collaborators at VAI and Florida State University. Current projects target anti-cancer therapies through ribosome inhibition and epigenetic CRISPR tools.
Clinical Impact: Co-developed 15 clinical trials in cancer and Parkinson’s disease through VAI partnerships. Her lab’s 2024 move to VAI leverages state-of-the-art cryo-EM facilities to advance precision medicine.
