RESEARCH INTEREST

Dr. Li studies signaling mechanisms for ischemic stress in the cardiovascular system. In particular, his group is interested in the mechanisms that govern the substrate metabolism in response to ischemia and reperfusion stress, with special emphasis on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central component of the cellular stress response that shifts metabolism towards ATP restoration during ischemic condition.  The immediate goal is to explore and validate cardioprotective action of AMPK against cardiac damage during ischemia/reperfusion and pressure overload. The long-term goal is to incorporate and integrate AMPK signaling pathways into realistic pharmacologic target for developing drugs to not only reduce morbidity but also decrease mortality of myocardial infarction and heart failure in patients, especially in elderly patients.