About
Introduction
Research Background
From Bachelor & Master training in Veterinary Medicine to my PhD research, I gained a wealthy experience on emerging zoonotic viruses.
My research has been focusing on addressing the challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging viral epidemics, through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates epidemiology, clinical research, mathematics, virology, and organoid technology.
Specifically, I am passionate in developing animal-free, human-based experimental models for studying viral diseases, in particular those affecting the digestive system.
The innovative platforms I have established, including human liver, intestinal, lung, kidney, and skin organoids based viral infection models, have opened avenues for understanding viral pathogenesis and developing therapeutics.
In addition, I am also enthusiastic in mapping epidemiological and clinical characteristics of emerging viral diseases through muti-bioinformatic approaches, which have been instrumental in guiding medical interventions.
Research Interests
My research interests mainly include: (1) Studying pathogen infections in the gut-liver axis and developing corresponding therapeutics; (2) Using organoid-based models to study inflammatory bowel disease and primary sclerosing cholangitis; (3) Nano- and microplastics: explore the impact of Nano-and microplastics to digestive diseases and emerging viral diseases.
Field(s) of expertise
Pengfei Li has extensive experience on establishing human organoid-based models for studying emerging viral diseases and developing antiviral therapeutics.
Education and career
From 2011 to 2018, Pengfei Li studied Veterinary Medicine in China and obtained his BSc and MSc degree from Shandong Agricultural University.
In October 2018, he moved to the Netherlands and started his PhD research at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center.
In June 2023, he successfully defended his PhD thesis. Shortly after his PhD defense, he initiated his independent research group at the same lab, focusing on studying the infection and inflammation in the gut-liver axis.
Publications
1. Li P, Pachis ST, Xu G, Schraauwen R, Incitti R, de Vries AC, Bruno MJ, Peppelenbosch MP, Alam IS, Raymond K, Pan Q. Mpox virus infection and drug treatment modelled in human skin organoids. Nature Microbiology. 2023 Oct 12. doi: 10.1038/s41564-023-01489-6.
2. Li P, Tawfiq JAA, Memish ZA, Pan Q. Preventing drug-resistance: combination treatment for mpox. Lancet. 2023 Nov 11;402(10414):1750-1751
3. Li P, Li Y, Wang Y, Liu J, Lavrijsen M, Li Y, Zhang R, Verstegen MMA, Wang Y, Li TC, Ma Z, Kainov DE, Bruno MJ, de Man RA, van der Laan LJW, Peppelenbosch MP, Pan Q*. Recapitulating hepatitis E virus-host interactions and facilitating antiviral drug discovery in human liver-derived organoids. Science Advances. 2022 Jan 21;8(3):eabj5908.
4. Li P, Wang Y, Lavrijsen M, Lamers MM, de Vries AC, Rottier RJ, Bruno MJ, Peppelenbosch MP, Haagmans BL, Pan Q. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is highly sensitive to molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir, and the combination. Cell Research. 2022 Mar;32(3):322-324.
5. Li P, Du Z, Lamers MM, Incitti R, Mora HT, Li S, Schraauwen R, van den Bosch TPP, de Vries AC, Alam IS, Haagmans BL, Hoogduijn MJ, Pan Q. Mpox virus infects and injures human kidney organoids, but responding to antiviral treatment. Cell Discovery. 2023 Apr 3;9(1):34.
6. Li P, Wang Y, Lamers MM, Lavrijsen M, Iriondo C, de Vries AC, Rottier RJ, Peppelenbosch MP, Haagmans BL, Pan Q. Recapitulating infection, thermal sensitivity and antiviral treatment of seasonal coronaviruses in human airway organoids. EBioMedicine. 2022;81:104132.
7. Li P, de Vries AC, Kamar N, Peppelenbosch MP, Pan Q. Monitoring and managing SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised populations. Lancet Microbe. 2022;3(5):e325-e326.
8. Li P, Li J, Ayada I, Avan A, Zheng Q, Peppelenbosch MP, de Vries AC, Pan Q. Clinical Features, Antiviral Treatment, and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Comparative Analysis of the Previous and the 2022 Mpox Outbreaks. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2023;228(4):391-401. (IF: 6.4; Top 10%)
9. Li P, Ikram A, Peppelenbosch MP, Ma Z, Pan Q. Systematically Mapping Clinical Features of Infections With Classical Endemic Human Coronaviruses. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2021;73(3):554-555.
10. Li J, Wang Y, Solanki K, Atre R, Lavrijsen M, Pan Q, Baig MS, Li P*. Nirmatrelvir exerts distinct antiviral potency against different human coronaviruses. Antiviral Research. 2023;211:105555.
Scholarships, grants, and awards
2024
Kiem Award (best publication) from Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology
Westerdijk Award (best thesis) from Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology
Gastrointestinal Thesis Award-First Prize from Dutch Society for Gastroenterology
2023
Cum Laude PhD
Research and Training Grant from Federation of European Microbiological Societies
2021
Young Investigator Bursary, EASL ILC
Grants: ZonMw-Stimuleringsimpuls voor Pandemische Paraatheid (€ 50,000; until 11/2024)
