Rachel Li

Associate Professor Rachel Li is a molecular pharmacologist and osteoimmunologist at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), Australian National University (ANU). She leads the Trauma and Orthopaedic Research Unit (TORU Lab), pioneering research in biomaterials for orthopedic implants, osteoimmunology, and 3D printing applications. Dr. Li holds an MD and PhD from Southern Cross University and completed a NIH postdoctoral fellowship in molecular pharmacology. Her work focuses on preventing implant-related infections, enhancing osseointegration, and understanding miRNA biomarkers in bone diseases. She previously served as a senior liver disease specialist at China Medical University and held academic roles at the University of Hawaii and University of Canberra.

Research Interests:

• Surface modification of biomaterials for orthopedic implants
• Osteoimmunology and miRNA biomarkers
• Angiogenic factors in inflammatory joint diseases

Key Contributions:

• Developed the Endoscopic Drug Delivery device for liver cancer hemorrhage (awarded National Innovation Award)
• Pioneered orthopaedic research in the ACT region
• Secured grants from ARC, NHMRC, and CORE

Grants & Collaborations:

• ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging
• Projects on antibacterial biomaterials and miRNA regulation in joint replacements

Labs & Teams: The TORU Lab focuses on translational research in orthopedic materials and osteoimmunology, with a strong emphasis on clinical application and innovation.