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Professor Zifu Li received a BSc degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2008 and a PhD degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012. In 2013 and 2015, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta. He then joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as a research scientist. Since 2016, he has been a full professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His group studies mechano-nanooncology, hyperbaric oxygen-enabled cancer therapy and smart nanomedicines. |
Read Zifu’s Emerging Investigator article, Modulating tumor mechanics with nanomedicine for cancer therapy, DOI: D3BM00363A.
Check out our interview with Zifu below:
How do you feel about Biomaterials Science as a place to publish research on this topic?
Biomaterials Science is an ideal place to publish our research on the topic of modulating tumor mechanics with nanomedicine for cancer therapy, for instance, we published our research paper entitled “A two-pronged strategy to alleviate tumor hypoxia and potentiate photodynamic therapy by mild hyperthermia” as a Back Cover on Biomaterials Science. As we focus on mechano-nanooncology, we would be glad to submit our future researches to Biomaterials Science.
What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment and what do you find most challenging about your research?
We are very excited to find that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a widely implemented therapy in hospitals, selectively augments antitumor efficacy of nanomedicine, such as Doxil, Abraxane and antibodies. We are more excited to translate the findings we got in our lab into clinical trials. Finding a clinicaly-relevant and important problem is most challenging for our current research.
In your opinion, what are the most important questions to be asked/answered in this field of research?
Understanding the impacts of tumor mechanics on tumor progression and cancer therapy and revealing the mechanisms by which nanomedicine regulates tumor mechanics are the most important questions.
Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other early career scientists?
Find a path that suits you and persist.
Find out more about Zifu’s research here.
