Shi-Wu Li, PhD
Assistant Scientist
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Dept. of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine |
Currently Involved In:
My general research interests are exploring molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis in autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes and lupus.
My current research focuses on mainly three areas:
- Identification and characterization of a novel pancreatic ?-cell specific autoantigen Pdx-1.
- Differentiation of the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from NOD mice or human with type 1 diabetes into insulin-producing ?-cells using protein transduction technology.
- Identification and characterization of a novel candidate gene for lupus. Pre-B-cell leukemia hemeobox1 gene has multiple isoforms of protein. The D isoform is highly expressed in CD4 T cells from lupus animal model and patients. Characterization of the biological function of the D isoform may provide the molecular mechanism of the disease.