Dr. Li’s Lab provides the following training opportunities to Baylor graduate students:
- Ligandomics technology for drug target discovery
- Therapeutic target validation
- Biological drug development
- Transition from basic research to translational medicine and commercialization
Lab Environment
Our lab provides an interactive and productive scientific environment. Dr. Li frequently discusses with trainees about research projects. Postdoc and research technicians routinely provide technical support to trainees. We encourage trainees to explore new areas and projects with scientific, technical and collaborative support. Our lab members are extensively collaborating for nearly all research projects with a strong team spirit. We collaborate extensively with other laboratories at Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Medical Center, other states and countries. We promote goal-oriented and translational research and provide strong support to career development of all lab members and trainees. Our lab is currently funded by National Institute of Health and American Diabetes Association.
Training Goal
The goal is for trainees to attain abilities for independent investigation of disease mechanisms and development of novel therapies. We provide opportunities for trainees to engage in a wide range of research projects from basic research, such as screening technology development and disease mechanism research, to translational research of drug target discovery, validation and novel therapy development. These research experience will allow trainees to gain inside knowledge of: i) how map disease-selective extrinsic signaling pathways for in-depth understanding of pathological mechanisms; ii) how drug targets are discovered and validated; iii) how to select most promising targets for drug development; iv) how to develop biological drug candidates in an academic lab setting; and v) how to implement FDA-required preclinical studies for clinical trial application. Trainees will have opportunities to participate in novel therapy development projects for different diseases, including ocular, cardiovascular, neurological diseases and cancer.
Other training opportunities include manuscript writing, grantsmanship for academic and business research grants and project transition from academic to academic entrepreneur. Trainees will gain essential skills for future career development as an academic investigator, academic entrepreneur or pharmaceutical scientist. Besides regular lab meetings, trainees will have one-on-one interactions with Dr. Li and lab postdoctoral associates on daily basis.
Trainees will have opportunities to attend and present at seminars and national meetings, write manuscripts and submit predoctoral fellowship applications.