The research in Dr. Li’s lab focuses on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in neurodegenerative diseases and drug-resistant tumors. Genetic, biochemical and bioinformatic methods are integrated to investigate gene misregulation in multiple disease states.

Our current interests range from understanding molecular mechanisms behind gene control to developing novel therapeutic targets for diseases caused by gene dysregulation:

1.      Characterize the novel nuclear function of cytosolic proteins which play key roles in regulating cell death and inflammation.

2.      Discover compounds that regulating nuclear translocation of key factors.

3.      Identify the molecular mechanisms underlying disease-specific mutations of components of chromatin remodeling complex.

4.      Uncover the chromatin remodeling dysregulation and RNA-mediated feedback control in drug-resistant tumors.