Dr Jingjing Li | UNSW Research

Keywords

microfluidic model

pluripotent stem cells

haematopoietic stem cell

cellular biophysics

embryonic development

cellular microenvironment

blood cells

cardiovascular development

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, working with A/Prof Robert Nordon. Her research focuses on developing and optimizing biological processes within automated microscale bioreactors for cell and gene therapy, with a strong interest in stem cell bioengineering.

Trained in biomedical engineering, she brings expertise in microfluidics, stem cell biology and bioinformatics. Her PhD and...view more

Trained in biomedical engineering, she brings expertise in microfluidics, stem cell biology and bioinformatics. Her PhD and postdoctoral work explored how pulsatile fluid shear stress modulates human embryonic blood formation using microfluidic model mimicking foetal circulation, live cell imaging of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) differentiation and single-cell analysis of developing blood and cardiovascular niches. She is now working on developing bioengineering strategies for the generation, expansion and functional enhancement of blood stem and progenitor cells, and for modeling diseased cardiovascular development.

My Grants

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

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

CIA, "Mechano-regulation of inflammatory signals in embryonic aorta for blood development", Cellular Genomics Incubator Research Funding, Cellular Genomics Futures Institute UNSW (2024)

Co-PI, "A novel strategy for preventing heart failure in myocardial infarction survivors", The Cardiac, Vascular and Metabolic Medicine Theme Collaborative (CVMM) Grant Award (2025)

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

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, expansion and genetic modification. These modifications target the genetic, metabolic and functional traits of the cells with the goal of improving their therapeutic potential, and compatibility for diverse applications in haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) & immunotherapy.