Dr Yan Li

Department of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine; National Clinical Research Centre for Child Health, Hangzhou, China

Dr Yan Li earned her PhD in Paediatrics from Soochow University, laying a solid foundation in host–pathogen interactions and immune regulation. Her cross-disciplinary work traces the continuum from infection to immune dysregulation and subsequent organ damage.

Early investigations centred on innate immune regulation, elucidating the metabolic and epigenetic control of neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. She then teamed up with materials scientists to develop nano-delivery systems that precisely modulate ferroptosis and mitophagy. Drawing on multi-centre cohorts, she integrates multi-omics data with rapid sequencing to create early molecular warning systems for paediatric infection, and applies artificial-intelligence-driven, interpretable machine-learning models to predict severe infection and guide intervention.

Over the past decade Dr Li has led or contributed to more than ten national and provincial research projects, establishing an end-to-end translational pipeline from fundamental mechanisms through animal models to early clinical validation. This work has advanced the adoption of multi-omics technologies and advanced materials in paediatric infectious disease research and has been recognised with honours such as the Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award and the Jiangsu Medical Science and Technology Award.

Alongside her research, Dr Li remains deeply engaged in clinical management of paediatric infections and in medical education. She directs educational reform projects, contributes to textbooks and case repositories, and has supervised numerous resident doctors and postgraduate students.

Her professional contributions are widely acknowledged, she serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals, reviews for many others, and holds committee appointments in various professional organisations, actively promoting cross-disciplinary and international collaboration.

Through the synergy of scientific innovation, clinical practice and talent development, Dr Li is committed to delivering precise early-warning systems and personalised treatment strategies, aiming to improve outcomes in paediatric infectious diseases and to mitigate the rising challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Updated 19 June 2025