Song Li
University of California Los Angeles, USA
2014

Dr. Song Li received B.S. and M.S. from Beijing University, and had his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at University of California (UC) San Diego. Dr. Li joined the faculty of the Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley in 2001, where he has developed a stellar independent research program, emerged as an internationally recognized scientist, award-winning teacher, and effective administrator who has contributed at the highest level to Departmental service. He is currently a Chancellor Professor, Chair of Department of Bioengineering, and a Professor of Medicine at UC Los Angeles, where his research is focused on cell and tissue engineering. He also served for many training programs and committees, including the Co-Director of UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco Joint Graduate Program, Faculty Director of Master Program and Chair of Continuing Education Committee.

Dr. Song Li has made significant contributions in the following areas: (1) vascular bioengineering and diseases, (2) mechanobiology of stem cells, and (3) stem cells and biomaterials for tissue regeneration. He was one of the first to combine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and nanomaterials for vascular tissue engineering, and he has identified a novel type of resident stem cells involved in vascular regeneration and disease development. Dr. Li has also pioneered the mechanobiology of stem cells, especially in the area of biophysical regulation of epigenetic state during cell reprogramming. His work has demonstrated how mechanical forces and the micro/nano structure of biomaterials regulate various aspects of cell functions. Dr. Li has published many articles in scientific journals such as Nature Materials, Nature Communications, Science Translational Medicine, PNAS and Nano letters. He has filed several patents, and is active in translating the research findings into products and clinical applications that will benefit the society.

Dr. Li has chaired many symposia, conferences and sessions, served on numerous review panels for government and private agencies in more than 10 countries, served as an editor for 4 journals, and reviewed manuscripts for more than 50 journals. Dr. Li has been elected as a Fellow of American Institute for Medical and a Fellow of Biological Engineering, a Fellow of Biomedical Engineering Society, and a Fellow of International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering.