Li

Dr. Li is a Professor and UTHSC Distinguished Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), where he is affiliated with the College of Pharmacy and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He also serves as the Director of the UTCoP Drug Discovery Center and the Faculty Director of the UTCoP Shared Analytical Instrument Facility, demonstrating strong institutional leadership and academic integration.

Dr. Li received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1992. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at Columbia University in 1999 under Professor Nick Turro. He began his career at UTHSC as an Instructor in 1999 and progressed through the academic ranks to become a tenured Associate Professor in 2009 and a full Professor in 2014.

His research focuses on medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, particularly the design and development of novel small molecules for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. His work bridges chemistry, pharmacology, and translational medicine, with a strong emphasis on innovation and therapeutic application. He founded SEAK Therapeutics LLC in 2018, a UTHSC spin-off company commercializing inventions from his lab.

Dr. Li holds the prestigious title of UTHSC Distinguished Professor, awarded in 2020. This honor reflects his significant contributions to research and academic leadership.

He actively mentors graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty. He also teaches medicinal chemistry and graduate-level courses at UTHSC. His leadership extends to managing major shared research facilities and directing a vibrant research laboratory focused on drug discovery.

Dr. Li leads the UTCoP Drug Discovery Center and the Shared Analytical Instrument Facility, providing critical infrastructure and expertise for pharmaceutical research at UTHSC. His lab continues to advance novel therapeutic agents, with ongoing work in oncology and neuroscience.