Xiao Li, Ph.D.
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Xiao Li, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (Tenure-track)
Positions
- Assistant Professor (Tenure-track)
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Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
- Assistant Investigator
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Texas Heart Institute at BCM
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
Addresses
- St Lukes Denton Cooley (SLDC) (Lab)
-
6770 Bertner Ave
Rm. c900a
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Education
- BS from East China Normal University
- 07/2008 - Shanghai, China
- PhD from University of Iowa
- 12/2013 - Iowa City, Iowa United States
- Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of California San Diego
- 12/2016 - La Jolla, California United States
Professional Interests
- Cardiovascular science
- Functional genomics
- Innate immunity
Professional Statement
My research focuses on transcriptional regulation, cardiac biology, and tissue innate immunity. Our lab, skilled in both wet and dry lab techniques, employs advanced technologies including single-cell multi-omics, machine learning, 3D genome architecture modeling, and a range of biochemical and imaging methods. My research is directed in three main areas:1. Cardiac remodeling in heart failure: Pediatric heart failure frequently arises from congenital heart disease, and its progression is often irreversible. Despite advances in care, many patients ultimately require heart transplants, which still carry a high risk of graft failure. My research investigates the mechanisms driving tissue remodeling during heart failure progression and seeks strategies to improve transplant durability.
2. Innate immunity in regenerative repair: The tissue immune microenvironment is central to regenerative repair, shaping inflammation, remodeling, and healing processes. My lab studies the immune microenvironment of the heart, brain, and skin, focusing on cell–cell crosstalk that can be targeted to limit fibrosis and promote regeneration.
3. 3D genomics in cardiac regeneration: My research integrates multimodal data to study nuclear RNA–mediated transcriptional regulation. Using GRID-seq, a technology I developed during my training, we model enhancer–promoter interactomes in cardiac cells and explore the roles of chromatin-associated RNAs in cardiomyocyte biology, linking gene regulation to 3D chromatin dynamics.
Websites
Selected Publications
- Leonard R, Zhao Y, Eliason S, Zimmerman K, Batz A, Hatcher CJ, Weiss RM, Sweat M, Li X, Amendt BA "Single-nuclei multiomics analysis identifies abnormal cardiomyocytes in a murine model of cardiac development." Nat Commun. 2025 Jul; Pubmed PMID: 40721580
- Hand SM, Zhao Y, Li D, Burke S, Lim HW, Yester J, Garg V, Accornero F, Li X, Li D, Jang J "Loss of Methyltransferase and Hypomethylated m6A Sarcomere Transcripts Leading to Early-Onset Dilated Cardiomyopathy." Circulation. 2025 Jun; Pubmed PMID: 40489544
- Steimle JD, Zhao Y, Meng F, Taylor ME, Turaga D, Adachi I, Li X, Martin JF "Single-nuclei transcriptomics reveals TBX5-dependent targets in a patient with Holt-Oram syndrome." J Clin Invest. 2024 Nov; Pubmed PMID: 39541167
- Li X*#, Turaga D*, Li RG, Tsai C-R, Quinn JN, Zhao Y, Wilson R, Carlson K, Wang J, Spinner JA, Hickey EJ, Adachi I, Martin JF# (# Co-corresponding author) "The macrophage landscape across the lifespan of a human cardiac allograft." Circulation. 2024 May; Pubmed PMID: 38344825
- Li RG*, Li X*, Morikawa Y, Grisanti-Canozo FJ, Meng F, Tsai C-R, Zhao Y, Liu L, Kim J, Xie B, Klysik E, Liu S, Samee MAH, Martin JF (* equal contribution) "YAP Induces a Neonatal Like Pro-Renewal Niche in the Adult Heart." Nat Cardiovasc Res. 2024 Mar; Pubmed PMID: 38510108
- Wang W*, Li X*, Ding X*, Xiong S*, Hu Z, Lu X, Zhang K, Zhang H, Hu Q, Lai KS, Chen Z, Yang J, Song H, Wang Y, Wei L, Xia Z, Zhou B, He Y, Pu J, Liu X, Ke R, Wu T, Huang C, Baldini A, Zhang M, Zhang Z (* equal contribution) "Lymphatic endothelial transcription factor Tbx1 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment to facilitate post-myocardial infarction repair." Immunity. 2022 Oct; Pubmed PMID: 37625409
- Liu X, Zhu R, Luo Y, Wang S, Zhao Y, Qiu Z, Zhang Y, Liu X, Yao X#, Li X#, Li W# (# Co-corresponding author) "Distinct human Langerhans cell subsets orchestrate reciprocal functions and require different developmental regulation." Immunity. 2021 Oct; Pubmed PMID: 34508661
- Li X, Fu XD "Chromatin-associated RNAs as facilitators of functional genomic interactions." Nat Rev Genet. 2019 Sep; Pubmed PMID: 31273305
- Zhou B, Li X#, Luo D, Lim DH, Zhou Y, Fu XD# (# Co-corresponding author) "GRID-seq for comprehensive analysis of global RNA-chromatin interactions." Nat Protoc. 2019 Jul; Pubmed PMID: 31175345
- Li X*, Zhou B*, Chen L, Gou LT, Li H, Fu XD (* equal contribution) "GRID-seq reveals the global RNA-chromatin interactome." Nat Biotechnol. 2017 Oct; Pubmed PMID: 28922346
Funding
- Targeting Senescent Macrophages to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes - #R01HL179012 Grant funding from National Institutes of Health
- Role: PD/PI
- Enhancing the Endurance of a Human Transplanted Heart Grant funding from Levy-Longenbaugh Fund
- Role: PD/PI
- Precision cardiac immunomodulation for post-transplant heart rejection in a porcine model - #24RDM008 Grant funding from Roderick D. MacDonald Research Fund
- Role: PD/PI
- Genetic dissection of Cardiac Conduction System homeostasis and Repair - #R01HL142704 Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
- Senescent Cell States in Single Ventricle Disease with Heart Failure - #R01HL177644 Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
- Role of cardiac m6A methyltransferases - #R01HL176685 Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
- Hippo-YAP signaling in cardiac regenerative repair - #R01HL173242 Grant funding from National Institute of Health
- Role: Co-investigator
- The Role of Prematurely Senescent Cardiomyocytes in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome - #1445898 Grant funding from Additional Ventures Research Fund
- Role: Co-investigator
- McGill Gene Editing Laboratory Gift funding from McGill Fundation
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