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Associate Professor Joan Li
Associate Professor

Joan Li

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32051

Overview

Background

Dr. Joan Li is a Senior Lecturer and a Research Fellow with an established national and international reputation at The University of Queensland. She holds both an MD and a PhD, blending clinical and scientific expertise, which provides her with a unique perspective on research and education. While establishing an emerging profile in medical education, she maintains engagement in discipline-related biomedical research through collaboration and supervision.

With over seven years of teaching experience, Joan has actively engaged in face-to-face teaching in biomedical science and medicine courses, contributed to curriculum design, development, and course coordination for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She brings her strong analytical skills and critical thinking abilities, honed through her medical and biomedical research background, to her teaching practices. Driven by a genuine passion for teaching, Joan continuously strives for excellence, with specific interests in assessment, curriculum design, development and student learning experience. She has implemented innovative teaching methods, designed diverse and inclusive curricula, created new learning activities, and fostered student engagement as learning partners, with a consistent goal of improving curriculum quality and enhancing student learning outcomes.

Leveraging her medical knowledge, extensive experience in biomedical research, and growing understanding of medical education, Joan is committed to developing medical students into critical thinkers and lifelong learners with a genuine appreciation for medical practice and medical research, enabling them to better serve an ever-changing society. Drawing upon her extensive experience in developmental biology and physiology, particularly in cardiac and renal research, Joan actively supervises higher degree research students and continues to make significant contributions to discipline-related research through publications and collaborations.

Dr. Joan Li is a versatile academic professional with a rich background in biomedical research and an emerging presence in medical education research. Her dedication to teaching and learning, combined with her impressive track record in both disciplines, makes her a valuable asset to The University of Queensland and the broader academic community.

Availability

Associate Professor Joan Li is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Dr Joan Li's researches have focused on cardiac and renal disease, injury/repair process and novel theraputic approaches combining cell biology and material science. She has published high impact articles in both biomedical research and material research journals. Her research in renal stem cells has made fundamental discoveries suggesting a novel mechanism involved in postnatal renal papilla development, which not only challenged the conventional view in postnatal kidney development but also implicated the importance of this process in disease susceptibility. This work was published as a cover story and highlight of the month in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the top ranked journal in the field of nephrology and Dr Li was invited to present a Faculty Lecture at the Annual Conference of American Society for Nephrology, the most prestige internaional conference in renal research. She has published two other papers in this area highlighting her contribution in this field. Dr Li was also invited to lead a team of guest editors developing a special issue for Frontier - Cell and Developmental Biology and subsequently joined the journal as an Associate Editor by invitation.

Works

Search Professor Joan Li’s works on UQ eSpace

44 works between 2003 and 2025

21 - 40 of 44 works

2018

Journal Article

Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice

Tan, Wei Sheng, Mullins, Thomas P., Flint, Melanie, Walton, Sarah L., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Carter, David A., Gandhi, Meera R., McDonald, Hayley R., Li, Joan, Moritz, Karen M., Reichelt, Melissa E. and Gallo, Linda A (2018). Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 314 (6), R858-R869. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00357.2017

Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice

2018

Conference Publication

Targeting renal fibrosis using self-assembled nanoparticles and injectable hydrogels

Li, Joan, Xia, Bingzhao, Su, Andrew and Cooper-White, Justin (2018). Targeting renal fibrosis using self-assembled nanoparticles and injectable hydrogels. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society World Congress 2018, Kyoto, Japan, 4-7 September 2018.

Targeting renal fibrosis using self-assembled nanoparticles and injectable hydrogels

2017

Journal Article

Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner

Walton, S. L., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Singh, R. R., Li, J., Paravicini, T. M., Little, M. H. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 8241, 8241. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08365-4

Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner

2017

Conference Publication

Treating fibrosis in chronic kidney disease using self-assembled nanoparticles

Li, Joan, Su, Andrew and Cooper-White, Justin (2017). Treating fibrosis in chronic kidney disease using self-assembled nanoparticles. International Conference on BioNano Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 24 - 27 September 2017.

Treating fibrosis in chronic kidney disease using self-assembled nanoparticles

2017

Journal Article

Clinical-grade isolated human kidney perivascular stromal cells as an organotypic cell source for kidney regenerative medicine

Leuning, Danielle G., Reinders, Marlies E. J., Li, Joan, Peired, Anna J., Lievers, Ellen, de Boer, Hetty C., Fibbe, Willem E., Romagnani, Paola, van Kooten, Cees, Little, Melissa H., Engelse, Marten A. and Rabelink, Ton J. (2017). Clinical-grade isolated human kidney perivascular stromal cells as an organotypic cell source for kidney regenerative medicine. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 6 (2), 405-418. doi: 10.5966/sctm.2016-0053

Clinical-grade isolated human kidney perivascular stromal cells as an organotypic cell source for kidney regenerative medicine

2017

Conference Publication

Prenatal Hypoxia and a Postnatal High Salt Diet Predisposes Mouse Offspring to Cardiovascular and Renal Impairments in Adulthood

Walton, S. L., Singh, R. R., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Li, J., Paravicini, T. M., Little, M. H. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). Prenatal Hypoxia and a Postnatal High Salt Diet Predisposes Mouse Offspring to Cardiovascular and Renal Impairments in Adulthood. 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, Hobart, Australia, 7-10 December 2016. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Prenatal Hypoxia and a Postnatal High Salt Diet Predisposes Mouse Offspring to Cardiovascular and Renal Impairments in Adulthood

2017

Conference Publication

The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development

Li, Joan, Guandalini, Michael, Kandasamy, Joga, Moritz, Karen M. and Trnka, Peter (2017). The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development. Kidney Week, American Society of Nephrology, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, October 31 - November 5 2017. United States: American Society of Nephrology.

The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development

2015

Conference Publication

Preferential proliferation in response to injury by an interstitial-derived collecting duct subpopulation

Li, Joan, Guo, Jinjin, McMahon, Jill A., McMahon, Andrew P. and Little, Melissa (2015). Preferential proliferation in response to injury by an interstitial-derived collecting duct subpopulation. American Society of Nephrology Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, United States, 3 - 8 November 2015.

Preferential proliferation in response to injury by an interstitial-derived collecting duct subpopulation

2015

Conference Publication

Transcriptional reprogramming and directed diffenrentiation of pluripotent stem cells: Alternative options for regenerating kidney

Little, M. H., Vanslambrouck, J. M., Takasato, M., Li, J., Suhaimi, N., Er, P. X. and Chiu, H. (2015). Transcriptional reprogramming and directed diffenrentiation of pluripotent stem cells: Alternative options for regenerating kidney. Ninth Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society Meeting, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, April 29 – May 1 2015. Hoboken, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/jgm.2834

Transcriptional reprogramming and directed diffenrentiation of pluripotent stem cells: Alternative options for regenerating kidney

2015

Journal Article

Collecting duct-derived cells display mesenchymal stem cell properties and retain selective in vitro and in vivo epithelial capacity

Li, Joan, Ariunbold, Usukhbayar, Suhaimi, Norseha, Sunn, Nana, Guo, Jinjin, McMahon, Jill A., McMahon, Andrew P. and Little, Melissa (2015). Collecting duct-derived cells display mesenchymal stem cell properties and retain selective in vitro and in vivo epithelial capacity. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 26 (1), 81-94. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2013050517

Collecting duct-derived cells display mesenchymal stem cell properties and retain selective in vitro and in vivo epithelial capacity

2013

Conference Publication

Epithelial origin and specific differentiation potential of endogenous renal MSC-like cells

Li, Joan, Suhaimi, Norseha, Ariunbold, Usukh, Takasato, Minoru, Sunn, Nana and Little, Melissa (2013). Epithelial origin and specific differentiation potential of endogenous renal MSC-like cells. ISN Forefronts Symposium, Florence, Italy, 12 - 15 Sep 2013.

Epithelial origin and specific differentiation potential of endogenous renal MSC-like cells

2012

Conference Publication

Incorporation of the endogenous renal mesenchymal stem cells into the elongating collecting ducts

Li, Joan, Ariunbold, Usukhbayar, Suhaimi, Norseha, Sunn, Nana and Little, Melissa (2012). Incorporation of the endogenous renal mesenchymal stem cells into the elongating collecting ducts. American Society for Nephrology Kidney Week 2022, San Diego, CA, United States, 30 October – 4 November 2012.

Incorporation of the endogenous renal mesenchymal stem cells into the elongating collecting ducts

2012

Journal Article

Association between congenital defects in papillary outgrowth and functional obstruction in Crim1 mutant mice

Wilkinson, Lorine, Kurniwan, Nyoman D., Phua, Yu Leng, Nguyen, Michael J., Li, Joan, Galloway, Graham J., Hashitani, Hikaru, Lang, Richard J. and Little, Melissa H. (2012). Association between congenital defects in papillary outgrowth and functional obstruction in Crim1 mutant mice. Journal of Pathology, 227 (4), 499-510. doi: 10.1002/path.4036

Association between congenital defects in papillary outgrowth and functional obstruction in Crim1 mutant mice

2012

Journal Article

Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities (vol 8, pg 58, 2012)

Pelekanos, Rebecca A., Li, Joan, Gongora, Milena, Chandrakanthan, Vashe, Scown, Janelle, Suhaimi, Norseha, Brooke, Gary, Christensen, Melinda E., Doan, Tram, Rice, Alison M., Osborne, Geoffrey W., Grimmond, Sean M., Harvey, Richard P., Atkinson, Kerry and Little, Melissa H. (2012). Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities (vol 8, pg 58, 2012). Stem Cell Research, 9 (1), 58-58. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2012.02.003

Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities (vol 8, pg 58, 2012)

2012

Journal Article

Proximal tubule overexpression of a locally acting IGF isoform, Igf-1Ea, increases inflammation after ischemic injury

Rae, Fiona K., Suhaimi, Norseha, Li, Joan, Nastasi, Tommaso, Slonimsky, Esfir, Rosenthal, Nadia and Little, Melissa H. (2012). Proximal tubule overexpression of a locally acting IGF isoform, Igf-1Ea, increases inflammation after ischemic injury. Growth Hormone and IGF Research, 22 (1), 6-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ghir.2011.11.002

Proximal tubule overexpression of a locally acting IGF isoform, Igf-1Ea, increases inflammation after ischemic injury

2012

Journal Article

Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities

Pelekanos, Rebecca A., Li, Joan, Gongora, Milena, Chandrakanthan, Vashe, Scown, Janelle, Suhaimi, Norseha, Gary Brooke, Christensen, Melinda E., Doan, Tram, Rice, Alison M., Osborne, Geoffrey W., Grimmond, Sean M., Harvey, Richard P., Atkinson, Kerry and Little, Melissa H. (2012). Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities. Stem Cell Research, 8 (1), 58-73. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2011.08.003

Comprehensive transcriptome and immunophenotype analysis of renal and cardiac MSC-like populations supports strong congruence with bone marrow MSC despite maintenance of distinct identities

2011

Journal Article

Adult cardiac-resident MSC-like stem cells with a proepicardial origin

Chong, James J. H., Chandrakanthan, Vashe, Xaymardan, Munira, Asli, Naisana S., Li, Joan, Ahmed, Ishtiaq, Heffernan, Corey, Menon, Mary K., Scarlett, Christopher J., Rashidianfar, Amirsalar, Biben, Christine, Zoellner, Hans, Colvin, Emily K., Pimanda, John E., Biankin, Andrew V., Zhou, Bin, Pu, William T., Prall, Owen W. J. and Harvey, Richard P. (2011). Adult cardiac-resident MSC-like stem cells with a proepicardial origin. Cell Stem Cell, 9 (6), 527-540. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.10.002

Adult cardiac-resident MSC-like stem cells with a proepicardial origin

2011

Journal Article

The renal papilla: An enigma in damage and repair

Vanslambrouck, Jessica, Li, Joan and Little, Melissa H. (2011). The renal papilla: An enigma in damage and repair. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 22 (12), 2145-2147. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2011100984

The renal papilla: An enigma in damage and repair

2010

Journal Article

Isolation of clonogenic, long-term self renewing embryonic renal stem cells

Lusis, M, Li, J, Ineson, J, Christensen, ME, Rice, A and Little, MH (2010). Isolation of clonogenic, long-term self renewing embryonic renal stem cells. Stem Cell Research, 5 (1), 23-39. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2010.03.003

Isolation of clonogenic, long-term self renewing embryonic renal stem cells

2005

Conference Publication

Cardiomyocyte-lineage precursor cells in the adult heart

Li, J., Prall, O., Heffernan, C., Fatkin, D. and Feneley, M. (2005). Cardiomyocyte-lineage precursor cells in the adult heart. 15th International Society of Developmental Biologists Congress, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 3 - 7 Sep 2005.

Cardiomyocyte-lineage precursor cells in the adult heart

Funding

Current funding

  • 2019 - 2025
    Targeting tissue fibrosis and age-related decline in tissue function
    Twin Towns Services Community Foundation Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2018 - 2019
    Targeted therapy for diabetic nephropathy using self-assembled nanoparticles
    Diabetes Australia Research Trust
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Joan Li is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Awareness and Knowledge of Australian Junior Doctors and Medical Students about Hidradenitis Suppurativa

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Erin McMeniman

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Joan Li's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au