Ming Li

Academic profile

Dr Ming Li

Lecturer in Clinical Neurobiology
Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)

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The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Ming's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 03: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

About Ming

Dr. Li earned his PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Hong Kong. He completed his postdoctoral training under the mentorship of Drs. Webster Cavenee and Frank Furnari at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego. Most recently, Dr. Li served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA. Prior to this role, he was a Principla Investigator at Soochow University in China, where he directed the Laboratory of Brain Tumor Biology.

 

Research Focus:

The research in my lab focuses on understanding the critical role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in glioblastoma (GBM) immune evasion and tumor progression, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative therapies to combat this devastating disease. Using cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, spatial transcriptomics, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we investigate innate immunity-associated genes that drive GBM immunosuppression and tumor growth. Employing advanced genetic models, including knockout mice and patient-derived xenografts, we aim to uncover novel molecular mechanisms of GBM immune evasion and therapeutic resistance. Our research further explores genetic and pharmacological interventions, particularly in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, to reprogram the TME and enhance anti-tumor immunity. By integrating molecular biology, immunology, and translational approaches, we seek to identify actionable targets and develop effective, durable treatment strategies for GBM patients.

 

Selected publications:

  1. Xu H, Jin J, Chen Y, Wu G, Zhu H, Wang Q, Wang J, Li S, Grigore FN, Ma J, Chen CC, Lan Q*, Li M*. GBP3 promotes glioblastoma resistance to temozolomide by enhancing DNA damage repair. Oncogene. 2022;41(31):3876-3885.  DOI: 1038/s41388-022-02397-5
  2. Li J#, Kaneda MM#, Ma J#, Li M#, Shepard RM, Patel K, Koga T, Sarver A, Furnari F, Xu B, Dhawan S, Ning J, Zhu H, Wu A, You G, Jiang T, Venteicher AS, Rich JN, Glass CK, Varner JA, Chen CC.  PI3Kγ inhibition suppresses microglia/TAM accumulation in glioblastoma microenvironment to promote exceptional temozolomide response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021; 118(16): e2009290118. # Co-first author. DOI: 1073/pnas.2009290118
  3. Ma J, Chen CC, Li M*. Macrophages/Microglia in the Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(11). Invited review. DOI: 3390/ijms22115775
  4. Yu X, Jin J, Zheng Y, Zhu H, Xu H, Ma J, Lan Q, Zhuang Z*, Chen CC*, Li M*. GBP5 drives malignancy of glioblastoma via the Src/ERK1/2/MMP3 pathway. Cell Death Dis. 2021; 12: 203. DOI: 1038/s41419-021-03492-3
  5. Yu S, Yu X, Sun L, Zheng Y, Chen L, Xu H, Jin J, Lan Q, Chen CC, Li M*. GBP2 enhances glioblastoma invasion through Stat3/fibronectin pathway. Oncogene. 2020;39(27):5042-5055. DOI: 1038/s41388-020-1348-7
  6. Sun L, Yu S, Xu H, Zheng Y, Lin J, Wu M, Wang J, Wang A, Lan Q, Furnari F, Cavenee W, Purow B, Li M*. FHL2 interacts with EGFR to promote glioblastoma growth. Oncogene. 2018;37(10):1386-1398. DOI: 1038/s41388-017-0068-0
  7. Xu H, Sun L, Zheng Y, Yu S, Jia OY, Han H, Dai X, Yu X, Li M*, Lan Q*. GBP3 promotes glioma cell proliferation via SQSTM1/p62-ERK1/2 axis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.2018;495(1):446-453. PMID: 29128363. DOI: 1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.050
  8. Latha K#, Li M#, Chumbalkar V, Gururaj A, Hwang Y, Dakeng S, Sawaya R, Aldape K, Cavenee WK, Bogler O, Furnari FB. Nuclear EGFRvIII-STAT5b complex contributes to glioblastoma cell survival by direct activation of the Bcl-XL promoter. Int J Cancer. 2013;132(3):509-20. #Co-fist author. DOI: 1002/ijc.27690
  9. Li M, Mukasa A, Inda MD, Zhang J, Chin L, Cavenee W, Furnari F. Guanylate binding protein-1 is a novel effector of EGFR-driven invasion in glioblastoma. J Exp Med. 2011; 208(13):2657-73. DOI: 1084/jem.20111102
  10. Li M, Wang J, Chau HW, Ng SS, Yu F, Lai LH, Shi C, Chen YC, Kung HF, and Lin MC. ADP-ribosylation factor 6 is required for epidermal growth factor-induced glioblastoma cell proliferation. Cancer. 2009;115(21):4959-72. DOI: 1002/cncr.24550
  11. Li M, Wang J, Chan CY, Chen AC, Yew DT, Wong BC, Chen Z, Kung HF, and Lin MC. Four-and-a-half-LIM protein 2 (FHL2) is overexpressed in gliomas and associated with oncogenic activities. Glia 2008; 56(12):1328-38. DOI: 1002/glia.20701
  12. Ng SS, Cheung YT, An XM, Chen YC, Li M, Li G, Cheung W, Sze J, Lai LH, Peng Y, Xia H, Wong BC, Leung SY, Xie D, He ML, Kung HF, and Lin MC. Cell cycle related kinase: a novel candidate oncogene in human glioblastoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007; 99(12):936-48. DOI: 1093/jnci/djm011
  13. Li M, Ng SS, Wang JD, Lai LH, Leung SY, Franco M, Peng Y, He ML, Kung HF, Lin MC. EFA6A enhances glioma cell invasion through ARF6/ERK signaling. Cancer Research 2006; 66(3):1583-90. DOI: 1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2424

Contact Ming

Contact Ming