Ling Li
· Associate Professor Graduate Group ChairVerifiedUniversity of Minnesota · Materials Science
Active 1984–2026
About
Dr. Ling Li is an Associate Professor and Graduate Group Chair in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined the department in 2024, following a faculty position at Virginia Tech where he served as a Mary V. Jones Faculty Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering from 2017 to 2023. Ling Li earned his undergraduate degree from the National University of Singapore, where he conducted research on nano- and micro-particle synthesis. He completed his Ph.D. at MIT in 2014, focusing his dissertation research on the multifunctional designs of biomineralized structures. After his Ph.D., he pursued postdoctoral research at Harvard University, specializing in colloidal self-assembly and bio-inspired designs. His research integrates biological principles and materials science to develop bio-inspired materials and structures, emphasizing the design and understanding of biominerals and multifunctional biological materials.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Internal medicine
- Organic chemistry
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
- Cancer research
Selected publications
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials · 2026-01-24 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessCorrosion is a persistent challenge in engineering, causing significant degradation of metallic materials across industries. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), a versatile class of two-dimensional materials, offer promising solutions for corrosion protection owing to their exceptional properties, such as anion capacity, anion exchangeability, and barrier resistance. Despite comprehensive reviews on the preparation of LDH powders or films and their applications in various corrosive environments, there has been no thorough examination of corrosion protection enhancement measures taken to address the deficiencies of LDH films grown in situ on metal surfaces. This review fills that gap by introducing the fundamental approaches and methodologies for growing LDH films directly on metal substrates, including strategies for structural design and surface modification to optimize protective performance. We identify the key challenges and issues that currently limit the long-term protective performance of these films. Subsequently, we examine advanced structural regulation and surface engineering techniques, including parallel growth, pore sealing, surface wettability regulation, active protection, and integrated methods, to enhance their durability and overall corrosion resistance. Finally, we highlight emerging research directions for translating these concepts into innovative and robust LDH-based films. By consolidating current knowledge on the structure and surface engineering of in-situ grown LDH films, this review aims to guide the rational design and development of pioneering corrosion protection materials.
CircTHBS1 aggravates peritoneal fibrosis by sponging miR-18a-5p and interacting with CTGF
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology · 2026-01-24
articleZoologischer Anzeiger · 2026-01-24
articleSenior authorWorld Journal of Surgery · 2026-01-24
articleCorrespondingBACKGROUND: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are a heterogeneous group with varied patterns of disease. The skip mediastinal lymph node metastasis is quite frequent and a prognostic factor for patients with N2 lung cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical significance and prognostic value of a new N2 descriptor based on skip N2 disease and ninth edition N2 classification. METHODS: A retrospective review of 533 patients with stage pN2 NSCLC was undertaken. Patients were finally classified into three categories (skip N2a, skip N2b/nonskip N2a, and nonskip N2b). The clinic characteristics, survival outcomes, and metastasis pattern were analyzed among groups. RESULTS: Significant prognostic differences were found between patients of subdivided N2 descriptor (skip N2a vs. skip N2b/nonskip N2a and p < 0.001 for both OS and DFS and skip N2b/nonskip N2a vs. nonskip N2b, p = 0.037 for OS and p = 0.029 for DFS). Better prognostic value in predicting survival, including a smaller Akaike Information Criterion value and a higher Harrell C-index, was observed for the new N2 descriptor relative to the ninth edition N2 classification. Skip patients had better survival outcomes and different lymph node metastasis pattern compared with nonskip patients. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to the ninth N2 classification, the new N2 descriptor could be a more reliable and accurate prognostic determinant, which is worth considering in the revision of the current tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging system.
Asian Journal of Criminology · 2026-05-22
articleOpen accessAbstract In recent years, the online scam industry has expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia, with operations shifting from dispersed setups in apartments, villas, and hotel rooms to large-scale “scam compounds” housing dozens of companies. Thousands of individuals have been deceived and trafficked into these facilities through fraudulent job offers, manipulation by acquaintances, or outright abduction. Yet those trafficked for forced criminality are often not recognised as victims. Because they are compelled to commit fraud, they are frequently perceived as offenders or willing participants rather than as people subjected to coercion. This paper draws on surveys, interviews, court records, and media coverage to compare Chinese and Vietnamese survivors, examining how they were recruited and what happened to them after leaving the compounds. Framing the analysis through the concept of the “ideal victim”, it argues that survivors of forced criminality elicit limited public sympathy in part because they do not conform to dominant stereotypes of victimhood. Many are able-bodied young men who initially believed they were entering legitimate or morally ambiguous work, which complicates their claims to victim status. Contrasting the profiles and narrative framings surrounding the two groups, the paper shows how ideas of deservingness and blame shape public and institutional responses, and calls for more nuanced understandings of coercion in the online scam industry as a basis for effective prevention and support.
Journal of Translational Medicine · 2026-01-24
articleOpen accessMetabolic reprogramming of glutamine plays a pivotal role in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Although inhibition of glutamine metabolism has been shown to suppress ccRCC progression, its effect on tumor immune evasion remains poorly understood. Bioinformatic analysis and glutamine deprivation assays were performed to investigate the association between glutamine metabolism and clinical outcomes in ccRCC, as well as its effect on tumor cell proliferation. Western blot, flow cytometry, MTT, ELISA, RNA-Seq, immunohistochemistry, and multiplex immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the antitumor effects of the glutamine antagonist DON/DRP-104 and the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 both in vitro and in vivo, along with their impacts on PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and CD8⁺T cell function. RNA-Seq, Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were further employed to explore the mechanisms by which DON/DRP-104 and CB-839 regulate PD-L1 expression. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the antitumor effects of DRP-104 or CB-839 in combination with an anti-PD-L1 antibody in renal cancer. We demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of glutamine metabolism with DON/DRP-104 or CB-839 effectively suppressed tumor cell viability in vitro by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis, and delayed tumor progression in vivo. However, this metabolic inhibition paradoxically impaired CD8+T cell function. Further investigation revealed that inhibition of glutamine metabolism upregulated PD-L1 expression on tumor cells via a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent EGFR/ERK1/2/c-Jun signaling pathway. Consequently, combining DRP-104 or CB-839 with anti-PD-L1 therapy enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in mouse models. While inhibition of glutamine metabolism blocks renal cancer growth, it concurrently impairs CD8⁺T cell function by upregulating PD-L1 expression on tumor cells via a ROS-dependent EGFR/ERK1/2/c-Jun pathway. Combining DRP-104 or CB-839 with ICIs restores CD8⁺T cell function and improves antitumor immunity.
Violence Against Women · 2026-04-16
article1st authorCorrespondingImage-based sexual violence (IBSV) has emerged as a significant global concern, yet empirical research in China remains limited. Drawing on an online survey, in-depth interviews, and analysis of legal cases, this study presents the first survivor-centered examination of IBSV in the Chinese context. Findings reveal that IBSV produces layered and enduring harms, including psychological distress, social exclusion, and withdrawal from digital life, often intensified by secondary victimization through legal ambiguity, institutional inaction, and inadequate platform governance. Survivors frequently struggle to name or report their experiences due to inadequate legal categories and normative stigma. By centering survivors' voices, this study conceptualizes IBSV as a continuum of harm across digital, social, and institutional domains, contributing to feminist victimology and TFGBV scholarship.
Critical Asian Studies · 2025-12-05 · 1 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingRadiotherapy and Oncology · 2025-12-17 · 1 citations
articleInternational Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention · 2025-11-08
articleOpen accesss: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) plays a crucial role in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the sex-specific relationship between EAT volume and CAD or its risk factors in an Indian cohort, filling the gap in data for the South Asian population. The retrospective study included 950 subjects who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) from 2013 to 2016 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in India. The EAT volume and CAD status were examined. CAD risk factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol levels were documented. In a sex-specific fashion, the generalized additive model and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the correlation between EAT volume and CAD or its risk factors. The two-piecewise linear regression model was applied to identify the inflection point for the nonlinear correlations. Results showed that EAT volume was larger in men than in women. A nonlinear relationship between EAT volume and CAD was identified in men but not in women, with an inflection point at 90 ml for men. The effect size of EAT volume on CAD was higher when EAT volume was below 90 ml. EAT volume was also linearly correlated with BMI in men. In the multivariable analysis, EAT volume was significantly associated with CAD and BMI in men, while no significant correlation was found in women. These findings suggest that EAT volume is an independent indicator of CAD risk in men, particularly in non-obese individuals. The sex-specific differences emphasize the importance of personalized approaches to CAD risk assessment in the South Asian population. • Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume correlates with coronary artery disease (CAD) in men. • The EAT–CAD relationship is nonlinear with an inflection point of 90 ml in men. • EAT volume is linearly associated with body mass index (BMI) in male subjects. • The EAT–CAD link is stronger in men with BMI < 30 kg/m 2 than in obese men. • EAT volume may serve as a sex-specific marker for CAD risk in South Asian men.
Recent grants
NIH · $1.9M · 2023
NIH · $324k · 2008
NIH · $250k · 2006
NIH · $1.9M · 2022
NIH · $1.5M · 2014
Frequent coauthors
- 164 shared
Yongjun Wang
Capital Medical University
- 161 shared
Xingquan Zhao
Beijing Tian Tan Hospital
- 161 shared
Yilong Wang
Chinese Institute for Brain Research
- 160 shared
C. Hawkins
University of Portsmouth
- 144 shared
James T. Rutka
Hospital for Sick Children
- 144 shared
Stefan M. Pfister
University Hospital Heidelberg
- 140 shared
Diane K. Birks
- 140 shared
Darell D. Bigner
Duke University
Labs
Li GroupPI
Education
- 2010
Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
- 2006
M.S., Materials Science and Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
- 2003
B.S., Materials Science and Engineering
University of Science and Technology of China
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