Xi Li, Ph.D.

Xi Li, Ph.D., is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine. His research interests include cancer biology, mucosal immunology, and drug discovery. He is currently a Research Associate in the Division of Digestive and LIver Diseases.

Dr. Li holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China. He earned his postdoctoral degree in medical sciences from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. His postdoctoral research included cancer, diabetes, and myocardial infarction. His current research focus is inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Li joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2022.

Dr. Li is a member of the Society of Toxicology and the National Postdoctoral Association.

Featured Publications

Bis-Indole-Derived Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1, Nur77) Ligands as Inhibitors of Endometriosis.

Mohankumar K, Li X, Sung N, Cho YJ, Han SJ, Safe S, Endocrinology 2020 Apr 161 4

Structure-dependent activation of gene expression by bis-indole and quinoline-derived activators of nuclear receptor 4A2.

Li X, Tjalkens RB, Shrestha R, Safe S, Chem Biol Drug Des 2019 Oct 94 4 1711-1720

Potent inhibition of breast cancer by bis-indole-derived nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) antagonists.

Hedrick E, Li X, Cheng Y, Lacey A, Mohankumar K, Zarei M, Safe S, Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019 Aug 177 1 29-40

Nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) antagonists induce ROS-dependent inhibition of mTOR signaling in endometrial cancer.

Mohankumar K, Li X, Sridharan S, Karki K, Safe S, Gynecol Oncol 2019 Jul 154 1 218-227

Structure-Dependent Modulation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Activities by Flavonoids.

Jin UH, Park H, Li X, Davidson LA, Allred C, Patil B, Jayaprakasha G, Orr AA, Mao L, Chapkin RS, Jayaraman A, Tamamis P, Safe S Toxicol. Sci. 2018 Jul 164 1 205-217

-Chlorophenyl)Methane, Modulates Glial Reactivity and Is Neuroprotective in MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism.

Hammond SL, Popichak KA, Li X, Hunt LG, Richman EH, Damale PU, Chong EKP, Backos DS, Safe S, Tjalkens RB J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2018 Jun 365 3 636-651

Penfluridol Represses Integrin Expression in Breast Cancer through Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species and Downregulation of Sp Transcription Factors.

Hedrick E, Li X, Safe S, Mol Cancer Ther 2017 Jan 16 1 205-216

Nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) as a drug target for treating rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).

Lacey A, Hedrick E, Li X, Patel K, Doddapaneni R, Singh M, Safe S, Oncotarget 2016 May 7 21 31257-69

Sulindac sulfide inhibits colon cancer cell growth and downregulates specificity protein transcription factors.

Li X, Pathi SS, Safe S BMC Cancer 2015 15 1 974

Diindolylmethane Analogs Bind NR4A1 and Are NR4A1 Antagonists in Colon Cancer Cells.

Lee SO, Li X, Hedrick E, Jin UH, Tjalkens RB, Backos DS, Li L, Zhang Y, Wu Q, Safe S Mol. Endocrinol. 2014 Aug me20141102