Research Team

Yuqi Guo, MD, MS
Associate Research Scientist
Email: yg701@nyu.edu
(Sep 2013- present)

Inspired by her previous findings that succinate enhances osteoclastogenesis through its receptor Sucnr1, Yuqi’s currently focusing on two projects: developing a novel remedy for periodontitis by targeting Sucnr1, and studying Sucnr1’s effect in aging animals. Besides these, Yuqi’s in charge of most types of animal surgeries in the lab.

Xiaoshuang Wang
Assistant Research Scientist

Xiaoshuang (AKA "Frocie") received a medical degree in 2015 and then studied the research of metabolism disease and cancer metabolic/immune therapy at Dalian Medical University and Nankai University. She joined the Li Lab in 2023, focusing on the inflammatory interaction between host and oral/gut microbiome

Xinyuan Liu, PhD.
Postdoctoral Associate
(April 2023 – present)
Xinyuan received her Bachelor degree in Biology Science from Lanzhou University and PhD in Botany from Shandong University. Her current research focuses on the succinate signaling in periodontitis induced neuroinflammation.

Zi Wang PhD.
Postdoctoral Associate
(April 2023 – present)

Zi focused on anti-aging compound development during his Ph.D. at Waseda University and on DNA repair pathways during the postdoctoral program at Scripps Research. He joined the Li Lab in 2023, working on SUCNR1 signaling in cell homeostasis. He is an energetic person and enjoys outdoor exercise

Abbey Lepor
(NYU Dentistry honors research program Class 2025)

Abbey has been a researcher in the Li Lab since June of 2022 as part of the Dental Academic Research Experience (DARE) honors research program at NYUCD. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Li and Dr. Guo, she has learned a lot about succinate and its role in aging and inflammation and is excited for the next steps of the project.

Abby Wang
(NYU Dentistry honors research program Class 2026)

Sungpil Chae
DDS Student

Sungpil received his B.S. in Communications from NYU and is currently a DDS student at NYU. Prior to dental school, He worked as a Junior Research Scientist at Li lab. Sungpil’s research interests include targeting Sucnr1 for curing systemic diseases.