Dr. Yi Li is an accomplished Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Nursing, and Nutrition at the University of the District of Columbia, specializing in human nutrition with a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. His cutting-edge research explores the complex relationship between obesity, type 2 diabetes, and gene-nutrient interactions, with a focus on epigenetic modifications and innovative nutrition interventions to address pressing health challenges.
Experience
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology York University, Canada Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Developmental Biology, Wuhan University, China
Roles
Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Saint Louis University, 2019-24 Assistant Professor of Human Nutrition, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2013-19 Postdoctoral Associate, Duke Medical Center, Duke University, 2012-13 Postdoctoral Associate, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 2010-12
Courses Taught
Advanced Nutrition Foundations in Nutrition Issues in Food and Nutrition Science Community Nutrition Life Cycle Nutrition Thesis Research Graduate Research Project
Expertise
Research Focus / Works in Progress
Obesity and type 2 diabetes study using nutritional biochemistry, nutritional genomics, and nutrition intervention methods; nutrients and gene interaction; epigenetic modifications; nutrition factors
Impact
Selected Publications
Obrenovich, M., Singh, S. K., Li, Y., Perry, G., Siddiqui, B., Haq, W., & Reddy, V. P. (2022). Natural product co-metabolism and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in age-related diseases.Life (Basel, Switzerland), 13(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010041
Guo, Y., Li, Y., Wang, F. F., Xiang, B., Huang, X. O., Ma, H. B., & Gong, Y. P. (2019). The combination of Nutlin-3 and Tanshinone IIA promotes synergistic cytotoxicity in acute leukemic cells expressing wild-type p53 by co-regulating MDM2-P53 and the AKT/mTOR pathway. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 106, 8–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2018.10.008
Selected Presentations
Brown, D., Archdeacon, K., & Li, Y. (2022). DNA methylation levels of PPARδ gene differentially affected by saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipogenesis. Experimental Biology 2022 Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Selected Grants
Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. (2022). Obesity associated epigenetic biomarkers induced by dietary factors.
National Institutes of Health. (2016). The regulation of gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms during onset of obesity/type 2 diabetes.
Star Animals Health, Inc. (2015). Establishing cultured chondrocytes from deer antlers and testing nutrition factors supporting growth of chondrocytes.
Recognitions
Research Institute Fellow, Saint Louis University, 2022 Invited Professional Member, Sigma Xi-The Scientific Research Honor Society, 2019 College Travel Award, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2014
