University of California-Davis · BiochemistryThe NanoNeuro Lab
Yuanpei Li · Davis, California
Research Focus
Dr. Yuanpei Li's lab focuses on developing innovative nanotherapeutics designed to improve treatment for brain cancers, particularly aggressive pediatric tumors like diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and high-grade gliomas in dogs. Through advanced nanoparticle technology, they aim to enhance drug delivery across the challenging blood-brain barrier and overcome resistance to current therapies. By studying both human and canine models, the lab works to create effective treatments that could significantly improve patient outcomes.
nanotechnologydrug deliverybrain tumorsdiffuse midline gliomahigh-grade gliomasautophagytherapy resistancepediatric oncologycanine models
Research Aims
5AIM 01Engineer new nanoparticles to improve drug delivery to brain malignancies
AIM 02Determine the distribution of nanoparticles in tumor models
AIM 03Evaluate the efficacy of epigenetic drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles
AIM 04Develop nanotherapeutics to reverse resistance in canine brain tumors
AIM 05Investigate the role of autophagy in glioma cell drug resistance.
Skills the Lab Values
nanoparticle designdrug formulationoptical imagingmagnetic resonance imagingliquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)xenograft modelsgene editinganimal handlingexperimental pharmacology
Output against the department
Publications176top 48% of dept.194th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.5kbottom 41% of dept.238th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.