Yun Rose Li

Dr. Yun Rose Li, M.D., Ph.D. serves as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope National Medical Center, and Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology & Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics. She specializes in treating genitourinary malignancies including prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers while leading innovative research at the intersection of radiation oncology, cancer genomics, and metabolic interventions.

Her research program focuses on three interconnected areas: (1) investigating inflammation, oxidative stress, and mutational signatures as biomarkers of cancer risk; (2) exploring epigenomic signatures of cancer origins and the impact of tissue development; and (3) developing metabolic strategies to mitigate radiation treatment toxicity. Dr. Li's work centers on the 'yin and yang' nature of oxidative stress in cancer - both as a driver of cancer development and as a mechanism for cancer treatment.

Analysis of her publications reveals a strong translational focus, with increasing emphasis on clinical applications of basic science discoveries. Her recent work increasingly addresses practical interventions to improve patient quality of life during and after cancer treatment, particularly through metabolic approaches like intermittent fasting during radiation therapy.

• NIH Director's Award for Early Independence (funding her clinical trial on metabolic interventions during radiation therapy)

As both clinician and researcher, Dr. Li emphasizes the critical balance between treatment efficacy and quality of life considerations. She leads an integrated 'humid lab' that combines wet and dry laboratory approaches to investigate fundamental cancer mechanisms while developing practical clinical applications. Her current Phase II randomized trial evaluating intermittent fasting during pelvic radiation therapy represents the direct translation of her basic science insights into patient care.