Liwu Li

Liwu Li is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He also holds a professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine. He has been a key academic leader since joining Virginia Tech in 2005, becoming full Professor in 2009, and currently serves as Director of the Program in Genetics, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology since 2019.

His research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of human inflammatory diseases, particularly innate immunity and inflammation dynamics. Key areas include:

• Innate immune memory programming (tolerance, exhaustion, low-grade inflammation, resolution)
• Role of TRAM (TICAM2), TOLLIP, and IRAK-M in signaling circuitries
• Mechanisms of pexophagy and autophagy disruption in inflammatory states
• Metabolic reprogramming in monocytes and neutrophils during sepsis and atherosclerosis
• Translational applications in inflammation therapeutics and cancer immunology

Although no specific publications are listed in the provided text, his work integrates biochemical, molecular, and computational approaches to understand how varying signal strength and duration shape immune cell behavior in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. His research has strong implications for treating sepsis, atherosclerosis, and cancer through immune reprogramming.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2024
• Fellow, American Heart Association, 2023
• Endowed College of Science Faculty Fellow, Virginia Tech, 2023
• President, Inflammation Research Association, 2018–2020
• NIH Review Panel Member (multiple terms)
• Multiple departmental awards in research, teaching, and service at Virginia Tech

Liwu Li has advised graduate students and mentored researchers through his laboratory, which investigates fundamental principles of immune memory. He has secured federal recognition through NIH review roles and maintains active research grants supporting his work on inflammation and immune cell dynamics. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biology (Cell and Molecular) from the University of Michigan and prior academic appointments at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He leads a multidisciplinary team that bridges experimental immunology with computational analysis to uncover new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.

His research team, the Li Laboratory, focuses on Innate Immune Memory Dynamics, exploring mechanistic principles and translational applications in inflammation therapeutics. The lab investigates distinct states such as low-grade immune-enhancing inflammation, tolerance, exhaustion, and resolution in monocytes and neutrophils. Using transgenic models and human blood samples, they examine the roles of key molecules like TRAM and TOLLIP in disrupting homeostasis and driving disease pathogenesis in atherosclerosis and sepsis. The team also explores rejuvenation strategies, including chemical (e.g., 4-PBA) and genetic (e.g., TRAM deletion) interventions, to restore immune homeostasis.