Xiao Li, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Positions
- Assistant Professor
-
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
- Assistant Investigator
-
Texas Heart Institute at BCM
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
Addresses
- St Lukes Denton Cooley (SLDC) (Lab)
-
6770 Bertner Ave
Denton A. Cooley Building c900a
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Education
- BS from East China Normal University
- 07/2008 - Shanghai, China
- PhD from University of Iowa
- 12/2013 - Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of California San Diego
- 12/2016 - La Jolla, California, United States
Professional Interests
- Cardiovascular science
- Functional genomics
- Innate immunity
Professional Statement
My research focuses on transcriptional regulation, cardiac biology, and tissue innate immunity. Our lab, skilled in both wet and dry lab techniques, employs advanced technologies including single-cell multi-omics, machine learning, 3D genome architecture modeling, and a range of biochemical and imaging methods. My research is directed in three main areas:
1. Cardiac remodeling in heart failure: Pediatric heart failure frequently arises from congenital heart disease, and its progression is often irreversible. Despite advances in care, many patients ultimately require heart transplants, which still carry a high risk of graft failure. My research investigates the mechanisms driving tissue remodeling during heart failure progression and seeks strategies to improve transplant durability.
2. Innate immunity in regenerative repair: The tissue immune microenvironment is central to regenerative repair, shaping inflammation, remodeling, and healing processes. My lab studies the immune microenvironment of the heart, brain, and skin, focusing on cell–cell crosstalk that can be targeted to limit fibrosis and promote regeneration.
3. 3D genomics in cardiac regeneration: My research integrates multimodal data to study nuclear RNA–mediated transcriptional regulation. Using GRID-seq, a technology I developed during my training, we model enhancer–promoter interactomes in cardiac cells and explore the roles of chromatin-associated RNAs in cardiomyocyte biology, linking gene regulation to 3D chromatin dynamics.
1. Cardiac remodeling in heart failure: Pediatric heart failure frequently arises from congenital heart disease, and its progression is often irreversible. Despite advances in care, many patients ultimately require heart transplants, which still carry a high risk of graft failure. My research investigates the mechanisms driving tissue remodeling during heart failure progression and seeks strategies to improve transplant durability.
2. Innate immunity in regenerative repair: The tissue immune microenvironment is central to regenerative repair, shaping inflammation, remodeling, and healing processes. My lab studies the immune microenvironment of the heart, brain, and skin, focusing on cell–cell crosstalk that can be targeted to limit fibrosis and promote regeneration.
3. 3D genomics in cardiac regeneration: My research integrates multimodal data to study nuclear RNA–mediated transcriptional regulation. Using GRID-seq, a technology I developed during my training, we model enhancer–promoter interactomes in cardiac cells and explore the roles of chromatin-associated RNAs in cardiomyocyte biology, linking gene regulation to 3D chromatin dynamics.
Websites
Selected Publications
-
Leonard R, Zhao Y, Eliason S, Zimmerman K, Batz A, Hatcher CJ, Weiss RM, Sweat M, Li X, Amendt BA. " " Nat Commun. 2025 Jul ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Hand SM, Zhao Y, Li D, Burke S, Lim HW, Yester J, Garg V, Accornero F, Li X, Li D, Jang J. " " Circulation. 2025 Jun ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Steimle JD, Zhao Y, Meng F, Taylor ME, Turaga D, Adachi I, Li X, Martin JF. " " J Clin Invest. 2024 Nov ;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Li X*#, Turaga D*, Li RG, Tsai C-R, Quinn JN, Zhao Y, Wilson R, Carlson K, Wang J, Spinner JA, Hickey EJ, Adachi I, Martin JF# (# Co-corresponding author). " " Circulation. 2024 May ;
Pubmed PMID: .
Funding
-
Targeting Senescent Macrophages to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes
#R01HL179012 - Grant funding from National Institutes of Health
- Role: PD/PI
-
Enhancing the Endurance of a Human Transplanted Heart
- Grant funding from Levy-Longenbaugh Fund
- Role: PD/PI
-
Precision cardiac immunomodulation for post-transplant heart rejection in a porcine model
#24RDM008 - Grant funding from Roderick D. MacDonald Research Fund
- Role: PD/PI
-
Genetic dissection of Cardiac Conduction System homeostasis and Repair
#R01HL142704 - Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
-
Senescent Cell States in Single Ventricle Disease with Heart Failure
#R01HL177644 - Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
-
Role of cardiac m6A methyltransferases
#R01HL176685 - Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
-
Hippo-YAP signaling in cardiac regenerative repair
#R01HL173242 - Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
-
The Role of Prematurely Senescent Cardiomyocytes in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
#1445898 - Grant funding from Additional Ventures Research Fund
- Role: Co-investigator
-
McGill Gene Editing Laboratory
- Gift funding from McGill Fundation
to edit your profile