معرفی
Dr. Wei Li is a British Heart Foundation Senior Basic Science Research Fellow at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, affiliated with the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Her work bridges structural biology, protein engineering, and cardiovascular medicine through studies of TGF-beta and BMP signaling pathways.
- PhD in Biochemistry (University of East Anglia)
- Postdoctoral research at Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
- Co-founder of Morphogen-IX (acquired by Centessa Pharmaceuticals)
Research focuses on protein-protein recognition mechanisms in extracellular TGF-beta/BMP signaling, particularly the BMP9(10):ALK1:BMPRII pathway in vascular endothelial cells. Key findings include discoveries about redox-dependent BMP9 regulation, prodomain function in BMP10, endoglin's dual role in signaling, and the first crystal structures of BMPRII complexes. Her work has direct implications for hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and preeclampsia.
Selected publications highlight multidisciplinary approaches combining structural biology, proteomics, RNAseq, and in vivo models. Notable outputs include patents for non-osteogenic BMP variants and translational insights into vascular protection. Awards include the 2023 BHF Research Fellow of the Year and 2023 Eureka International Certificate in Translational Medicine.
- 2023: Recognized for BHF leadership role in project grant committee
- Developed novel therapeutic BMP variants with clinical potential
