The Li Lab Imaging Research Laboratory at UCSF, led by Dr. Yan Li, specializes in developing advanced imaging and metabolic biomarkers to enhance the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of various neurological and psychiatric conditions. Their research focuses on brain tumors, autism, depression, and other diseases characterized by biochemical changes.
Core Research Areas
- Imaging Brain Metabolism
The lab utilizes in vivo MR spectroscopy (MRS) with nuclei such as ^1H, ^13C, ^2H, and ^31P to noninvasively study brain metabolism. They are developing automated, high-resolution ^1H MRSI techniques using AI to improve tumor boundary identification and are exploring deuterium (^2H) MRS to assess metabolic pathways in glioma and major depressive disorder. - Multimodal Neuroimaging in Glioma
Research efforts include characterizing spatial heterogeneity in astrocytomas, evaluating cognitive function in glioma patients, and assessing early therapeutic responses using hyperpolarized carbon-13 MRI and ^1H MRSI. - Neurotransmitters & Disease Onset/Progression
The lab investigates the roles of glutamate and GABA in conditions like autism and adolescent depression. Projects include studying speech deficits in ASD through functional connectivity and neurotransmitter levels, examining glutamatergic mechanisms in adolescent depression, and evaluating the efficacy of SKY breath intervention in treating adolescent depression.