Yan Li, Ph.D.

Responsibilities & Activities
I am director of the Diabetes and Endocrine Disease Translational Research program. This portfolio supports a variety of research relevant to the development of therapies for diabetes, endocrine, and metabolic diseases. This includes research on physiological and pathophysiological processes, molecular structures or biological pathways, and the bioavailability of compounds. Studies in this portfolio examine the ability to selectively modulate the function of drug discovery targets and the ability to translate biological endpoints of preclinical research to the clinic.
I am also the Program Director for K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Awards and R13 Conference Grants. My other professional activities include participating in several NIDDK working groups, including ones that focus on type 2 diabetes, obesity, and clinical studies, as well as the NIDDK Translational Sciences Working Group.
Research Programs
Bioengineering, Biotechnology, & Imaging as applied to Diabetes, Metabolic, & Endocrine Diseases
Cutting-edge technologies and integrated approaches that treat and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of endocrine and metabolic diseases, including diabetes.
Diabetes Genetics & Genomics
Genetic mechanisms underlying type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how genetic and epigenetic variation influences the metabolism of therapeutics.
Diabetes, Endocrine, & Metabolic Disease Translational Research
Studies that translate scientific findings into practice to enhance human health of those with, or at risk for, metabolic disease.
Committees & Working Groups
- NIH Training Advisory Committee, Member
- NIDDK Minority Affairs Advisory Committee, Member
- NIDDK Obesity Research Working Group, Member
- NIDDK Translational Sciences Working Group, Member
- DEM Clinical Sciences Working Group, Member
Select Experience
Health Specialist, NIDDK, NIH, 2013-2016
CRTA Fellow, NCI, NIH, 2008-2013
Young Investigator, Department of Food Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany, 2004-2005
Ph.D., Center for Research in Molecular Endocrinology, University of Oulu, Finland, 2004