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Researcher

Dr Jingjing Li

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Biomedical engineering, Human biophysics, Regenerative medicine (incl. stem cells), Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, Medical devices, Microfluidics and nanofluidics

Biography

Dr Jingjing Li is a  Postdoctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. She is working with A/Prof Robert Nordon on ARC Linkage and CRC-P project developing an automated microscale bioreactor for cell and gene therapy. Her research is at the interface of biology and engineering, focusing on the development of microfluidic organ on chip systems and their application in stem cell science, cardiovascular and blood...view more

Dr Jingjing Li is a  Postdoctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. She is working with A/Prof Robert Nordon on ARC Linkage and CRC-P project developing an automated microscale bioreactor for cell and gene therapy. Her research is at the interface of biology and engineering, focusing on the development of microfluidic organ on chip systems and their application in stem cell science, cardiovascular and blood development. 

Being trained as a biomedical engineer, she developed multidiscipline skills spans from microfluidics, stem cell biology, and bioinformatics. Her PhD and Post-Doctoral research focus on studying the influence of pulsatile fluid shear stress on human embryonic blood formation using microfluidic model mimicking foetal circulation, live cell imaging of hPSC differentiation and single-cell RNA sequencing of developing blood niches. She is now working on upscaling the microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models and applying them in the expansion, maturation and engraftment of blood stem and progenitor cells.


My Grants

CIA, Early Career Researcher Seed Grant ,UNSW Engineering Faculty (2021)

CIA, International Seed Grant, UNSW Engineering Faculty (2022)

CIA, Cellular Genomics Incubator Research Funding, Cellular Genomics Futures Institute UNSW (2024)

Contributor for  

Scaling microfluidics for cell manufacture. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant LP160100570 (2016-2019)

Manufacturing 3D microstructures for the medical device industry. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant LP160100573 (2016-2019)

CRC-P "Making cell and gene therapy affordable with a microbioreactor" UNSW, Genesys, CSL (2021-2024)


My Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering) (2015 – 2019), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Master of Biomedical Engineering (by research) (2009-2011), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (2003 – 2007), Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

 

 


My Awards

Travel Grants

2022      The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) and the Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society (AGCTS) Joint Scientific Meeting / National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (NSCFA) Travel Award 

2019      The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) and the Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society (AGCTS) Joint Scientific Meeting / National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (NSCFA) Travel Award            

2019     International Society of Experimental Hematology Conference Award                         

2018     International Society of Stem Cell Research ECR and student Conference Award                                     

2017     Australian Society for Stem Cell Research ECR and student Conference Award   

2015-2017   Stem Cell Australia (SCA) Meeting Travel Grant

2010   Australian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) Conference Travel Award                               

Scholarship, Awards and Fellowship:

2019                  Best Poster Presentation Award, UNSW Cross Faculty Research Symposium           

2018-2019         Postdoctoral Writing Fellow Award, UNSW

2015-2019        Women in Engineering Award, UNSW 

2015-2019         Faculty Top-up Scholarship, UNSW, Engineering

2015-2019         Australia Postgraduate Award             

      

           


My Research Activities

 

1. Modelling human heart, vascular and blood development from pluripotent stem cells on a microfluidic chip

We have used lab-on-chip to mimic foetal circulation and to model human blood formation from cells that line blood vessels. We are currently studying the influence of pulsatile blood flow and circulation on the generation of precursor blood stem cells. We are also investigating the use of hydrogels to pattern embryonic development of the cardiovascular system.

2. Enhancing the development of aortic vasculature and blood stem cell from pluripotent stem cells using dynamic culture system

We use upscaled Microfluidic circulation system and orbital shearing culture system to enhance the development of precursor blood stem cells. This work has been featured in UNSW newsroom and The conversation.

3. Stem cell engineering: the modification of human CD34+ blood stem and progenitor cells.

CD34+ blood stem and progenitor cells derived from sources such as cord blood, bone marrow, mobilised peripheral blood, and human pluripotent stem cells can be manipulated through various techniques of separation, stimulation and genetic modification. These modifications target the genetic or physical traits of the cells with the goal of improving their functionality, therapeutic potential, and compatibility for diverse applications in haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) & immunotherapy.

 


My Research Supervision


Areas of supervision

Available to co-supervise HDR candidates for projects

1. Upscaling organ-on-chip systems for manufacturing blood from human pluripotent stem cells.

2. Biomechanical regulation of blood development.

3. Developing bioengineering strategies for the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell derived blood precursors.


Currently supervising

Co-supervising PhD Candidate:

Ada Lee, Lab-on-a-chip scale-out of autologous cell and gene therapies.

 

 


My Engagement

Research Society and Committee

International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)

International Society of Experimental Hematology (ISEH) - New Investigator Committee (NIC) Member

International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT) - Stem Cell Engineering Committee Member (Committee Spotlight)

UNSW Cardiac, Vascular & Metabolic Medicine Theme (CVMM) - Early Career Researcher Committee Member

IEEE Medical Imaging and Image processing

IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBS)

Australia Society of Stem Cell Research (ASSCR)

Engineers Australia

NSW Stem Cell Network

 

Professional Society

Academic Representative, Level 3 WHS committee, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW

 


My Teaching

BIOM9640 Biomedical Instrumentation

BIOM1010 Engineering in Medicine and Biology

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Location

Samuels 514, F25
UNSW Sydney
Kensington
2052


Map reference (Google map)

Videos

Emulating the heart - Developing blood stem cells to treat cancer
2021 ANFF Showcase | Jingjing Li: Microfluidic mimicry of embryonic circulation