Rong Li

Professor Rong Li serves as Director and Distinguished Professor at the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI), National University of Singapore (NUS), a Research Centre of Excellence. Previously Director of the Center for Cell Dynamics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she brings over 25 years of interdisciplinary research expertise in cellular dynamics and mechanics to her leadership role at MBI.

Her academic foundation includes a Combined BS and MS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University (1988) and a PhD in Biophysics and Biochemistry from the University of California San Francisco (1992).

Professor Li's research program centers on two interconnected pillars: cell and tissue aging and cellular and organismal adaptation. Her aging research investigates dynamic changes in cellular components during aging processes and their mechanical consequences, aiming to develop interventions for healthy aging and tissue regeneration. The adaptation thrust explores genetic and epigenetic responses to environmental stressors, with critical implications for preventing inflammation-driven cancers. Her lab employs cutting-edge biophysical and imaging techniques to dissect molecular mechanisms in development, aging, and disease contexts.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in mechanobiology, aging biomarkers, and chromosomal stability. Key trends include cytoskeletal dynamics in stem cell differentiation, nuclear mechanosensing in confined environments, actin-driven cell fusion mechanisms, protein aggregation pathologies, and mitochondrial quality control in neurodegeneration. These studies consistently bridge fundamental cell mechanics with translational applications in regenerative medicine and cancer prevention.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Election as ASCB Fellow (2023)
• ASCB Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award (2019) for scientific excellence and mentoring

Professor Li actively mentors PhD students and research fellows while securing major funding initiatives, including an MOE AcRF Tier 3 grant (2021) with Prof. Tony Kanchanawong to investigate endomembrane aging. Her collaborative work on chromosomal segregation mechanisms has direct applications in preventing cancer associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.

The Rong Li Lab operates across two sites: the Singapore-based MBI group focuses on cell dynamics in development, aging, and adaptation, while maintaining legacy connections to Johns Hopkins. Current projects exploring oocyte rejuvenation, mitochondrial proteolysis, and actin-mediated cell fusion position the lab at the forefront of mechanobiology research with significant therapeutic potential.