HONGMIN LI

PhD Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Hli1@pharmacy.arizona.edu

Hongmin Li, PhD, joined the College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona Tucson in 2020 from the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. During the last 20 years, my laboratory focuses on both basic and translational sciences. In basic science part, we investigate the structures, functions and mechanisms of essential macromolecules involved in various cellular actions and disease processes. The knowledge gained from these basic science studies leads to the second category, the drug discovery part where we develop novel biochemical and cellular assays for different drug targets, carry out high throughput screening (HTS) assays to identify novel target-based inhibitors, perform cellular antiviral/antifungal/anti-cancer assays, and conduct ADMET profiling and mouse model efficacy studies for lead compounds.

My laboratory has developed a research platform that integrates virology, mycology, bacteriology, RNA, biochemistry, structural biology, cellular biology, and in vivo animal model in the same lab. We also work closely with collaborators and colleagues in the aspects of medicinal chemistry, computational biology, immunology, cancer biology, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).

The Li laboratory has been continuously funded by the NIH and various foundations since 2002. Currently, the main research focuses on development of therapeutics against cancers and human pathogens such as dengue virus, Zika virus, SARS-CoV-2, Cryptococcal fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Students and postdoctors joining in the lab will have opportunities to explore all areas in the Li laboratory, as stated above. We currently have multiple positions opening at all levels (undergraduate and graduate students, technician, and postdoc).