Huiying Li

Huiying Li is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles. Her academic appointment positions her at the critical intersection of microbiology and pharmacological research, focusing on the complex metabolic relationships within the gastrointestinal ecosystem.

Dr. Li's research program investigates the fundamental mechanisms of microbial survival in the gut environment, with particular emphasis on how Bacteroidetes and other gut bacteria utilize specific nutrients including sugars and butyrate. Her work bridges molecular pharmacology with microbiome science, examining how microbial metabolic pathways influence and are influenced by their host environment. This research has significant implications for developing microbiome-targeted therapeutic approaches and understanding diet-microbe interactions.

Her scholarly contributions include high-impact publications such as her 2022 article in Cell that examined microbial survival dependencies in the gut. Dr. Li's research has established her within a collaborative network of microbiome researchers across the University of California system, connecting with prominent scientists at UCLA, UC Davis, UCSF, and other UC campuses who specialize in gastrointestinal microbiology and related fields.

Dr. Li maintains an active research profile at UCLA, contributing to the university's leadership in biomedical research and pharmacological sciences. Her work continues to advance our understanding of how microbial metabolism functions within the complex environment of the human gut and how these processes might be leveraged for therapeutic benefit.