LI Yaping
Principal Investigator
Center of Pharmaceutics
Personal Homepage
CONTACT
ypli@simm.ac.cn
+86-21-68077894
201203
Room 1515, Building 1, 501 Haike Road, Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong Shanghai 201203
Biography
Education Experience:
1998 – 2001 Ph.D. School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, China
1993 – 1996 M.S. Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China
Work Experience:
2007 – Present Professor, Head, PI, Center of Pharmaceutics, SIMM, CAS
2006 – Present Professor, PI, SIMM, CAS
2002 – 2006 Associate Professor, PI, SIMM, CAS
1996 – 2002 Assistant Professor, PI, SIMM, CAS
1991 – 1993 Factory Deputy Director, Hubei Anlu Pharmaceutical Factory
1987 – 1991 Section Chief/Director, Hubei Anlu Pharmaceutical Factory
Research Directions
1. Nanochemistry
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Drug delivery
4. Biomaterials
5. Nanomedicine
6. Medicinal chemistry
Grants & Research Projects
Projects supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
1.2025-2027, NSFC, International Cooperation Project, PI, “Dendritic cell-PD-L1 antibody nanodelivery system enhances tumor immune checkpoint therapy” (32561160090).
2.2022-2026, NSFC, Key Project, PI, “Biomimetic nanovesicle targeting tumors enhance epigenetic anticancer efficacy” (32130058).
3.2020-2024, NSFC, Key Project, PI, “The improvement of tumor immune checkpoint blocking therapy effect by a three element synergistic enzyme sensitive nanodrug delivery system” (31930066).
4.2017-2021, NSFC, Major Project, PI, “The efficacy and safety of efficient delivery systems for biomacromolecule drugs” (81690265).
5.2017-2021, NSFC, Key Project, PI, “Targeted nano-delivery system based on erythrocyte membrane against lung metastasis of breast cancer” (81630052).
6.2016-2021, NSFC, the Innovation Research Group, PI, “A novel delivery system based on nanotechnology for anticancer drugs” (81521005).
7.2013-2017, NSFC, Key Project, PI, “New cationic poly(β-Amino ester)/RNA self-assembled nanoparticles for targeted therapy of Tumor” (81230029).
8.2010-2013, NSFC, Distinguished Young Scholar, PI, “Drug delivery system and molecular pharmaceutics” (30925041).
9.2009-2011, NSFC, General Project, PI, “Cationic Click Polymer/DNA Self assembled Nanoparticles” (30873169).
10.2006-2008, NSFC, General Project, PI, “DNA-polyphosphazene derivative nanoparticles with high transfection efficiency” (30572259).
11.2004-2006, NSFC, General Project, PI, “Active targeting stealth nanoparticles as non-viral gene carriers” (30371691).
Projects supported by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of China
12.2023-2027, MOST, National Key R&D Program, Chief Scientist, “Key technologies for targeted delivery of nucleic acid drugs in vivo” (2022YFC3401400).
13.2010-2014, MOST, 973 Program, Chief Scientist, “Basic research on the application of new drug formulations based on nanotechnology to improve tumor treatment effectiveness” (2010CB934000).
14.2005-2007, MOST, 973 Program, Academic backbone, “Nanostructures and functionalization based on biomolecule induced assembly” (2005CB724700).
15.2004-2009, MOST, 973 Program, Project 2 leader, “Novel gene non-viral vectors” (2004CB518802).
Projects supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
16.2020-2021, CAS, Key project of the STS network program, PI, “R&D of new reduction sensitive high efficiency and low toxicity oxaliplatin nanomicelles” (KFJ-STS-ZDTP-081).
17.2019-2022, CAS, Key project for foreign cooperation, PI, “A prodrug co-delivery nano DDS for regulating the tumor immune microenvironment to improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy” (KYSB20190013).
18.2018-2020, CAS, Leading strategy A: Personalized drug, Sub project leader, “Key technologies for personalized drug delivery” (XDA12050307).
19.2016-2020, CAS, Advanced Science Key Research Program of CAS - middle-aged outstanding scientists, PI, “Anti lung metastasis of breast cancer with biomimetic nano drug based on erythrocyte membrane” (QYZDJ-SSW-SMC020).
20.2013-2018, CAS, Leading strategy A: Nano, Sub project leader, “Industrialization technology of nanodrugs” (XDA09030304).
21.2010-2011, CAS, Important directional project, PI, “Novel efficient and multifunctional delivery system for siRNA” (KSCX2-YW-R-193).
22.2006-2009, CAS, Important directional project, Academic backbone, “Targeted gene therapy for cancer” (KSCX2-YW-R-09).
23.2005-2007, CAS, Important directional projects, Project 1 leader, “Basic research on nanobiomedicine and devices” (kjcx2-sw-h12-01).
Projects supported by Shanghai
24.2024-2027, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “AI empowered small RNA drug lymphatic targeted delivery for tumor immunotherapy” (24J22800600)
25.2019-2021, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “Preclinical study of PEG oxaliplatin bonded prodrug for injection” (19431900800).
26.2012-2015, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “The anti-tumor metastasis effect of reducing responsive tween 85-LPEI/nucleic acid complex nanoparticles” (12nm0501300).
27.2011-2014, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “New cationic polymerization (β-aminoester) derivatives/nucleic acid nanocomposite to reduce tumor drug resistance” (11nm0505900).
28.2011-2013, Outstanding Academic Leaders Program, PI, “Anti lung metastasis of breast cancer by reduction responsive poly (β-aminoester)/siRNA nanocomposite” (11XD1406200).
29.2010-2012, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “Improving the bioavailability of insoluble drug daidzein by nanotechnology” (1052nm06300).
30.2008-2010, Action Plan for Technology Innovation, PI, “Gene nanocarriers based on cationic click polymers” (0852nm05700).
31.2008-2010, Key biomedical projects, PI, “Key technologies for industrialization of non-patented insoluble drugs” (074319117).
Achievements
1. Proposed a new concept of designing anticancer drug carriers with integrated "precise delivery + intelligent drug release", achieving a significant breakthrough in overcoming tumor immunotherapy tolerance. He clarifies the physical pharmaceutical factors of nanocarriers that affect drug delivery in drug-resistant tumors, discover and systematically reveal the mechanism of nanodrugs to overcome tumor chemotherapy resistance, pioneer the biomimetic T-cell nanovesicle to effectively overcome the immune tolerance generated by epigenetic therapy, and create the photodynamic driven nanodrug delivery system to enhance the effect of tumor immune checkpoint blockade.
2. Pioneered a new direction for anti-tumor metastasis of nanomedicine, and has created new anti-cancer drug formulations with remarkable “superior efficacy”. He pioneers the first Ly6Chi monocyte-based nano-preparation that targets triple negative breast cancer and lung metastasis foci; Propose and confirm a new idea of targeted infiltration of tumors and metastatic lesions through the "tumor-homing effect of macrophage", and pioneer a macrophage membrane targeted biomimetic drug delivery system of DM1, realizing tumor metastatic lesion-targeted drug delivery.
3. Invented new technologies such as secondary composite lipidation to solve the "bottleneck" problem of low bioavailability of water insoluble drugs and poor druggability of drug candidates. Reveal the process, pathway and mechanism of nanodrugs in improving the oral absorption of insoluble drugs, increase the oral bioavailability of 19 insoluble drugs, improve efficacy, or generates new effects. For the first time, a formulation solution has been proposed to improve the druggability of candidate new drugs, solving the key challenges of druggability for 30 candidate new drugs.
4. Published over 300 high-impact papers in the TOP journals such as Nat Nanotech, Nat Med, Nat Biomed Eng, Sci Immunol, STTT, Nat Commun and Adv Mater, et al, with over 26900 citations, 26 ESI Highly Cited Papers, and an H-factor of 91. Selected as a Highly Cited Scientist by Elsevier & Clarivate for 6 years and ranked among the TOP5 in the Top 100 Academic Influence List of Chinese Pharmaceutical Experts (Global Academic Database) for 4 years. He has given more than 200 plenary/invited lectures in international/national conferences.
5. Led the R&D of over 60 pharmaceutical preparations, 19 of which are in clinical uses, with 23 into clinical trials, 10 in pre-clinical stages. He has also established 9 national drug standards and authorized 105 patents.
6. Cultivated 180 young talents and graduate students, 4 doctoral students won excellent doctoral theses from the CAS, 2 person won the Special Award of the Dean of the CAS, 7 people won the Excellent Award of the Dean, 11 doctoral students won the Three Good Student Model of the CAS, and 12 doctoral students won outstanding graduates from the CAS or Shanghai.
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Social Titles
2025 – Now Editorial Board Member, the Innovation Drug Discovery
2025 – Now Editorial Board Member, ACS Nano Medicine
2025 – Now Vice Chairman of the Cell and Gene Therapy Branch of the China Medical Biotechnology Association
2025 – Now Standing Committee Member, Nanobiotechnology Branch, China Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Association
2025 – Now Executive Council, Chinese Anti Cancer Association (CACA)
2024 – Now Editorial Board Member, Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment（JCMT）
2023 – Now Editorial Board Member, Pharmaceutics
2022 – 2024 Member of Council, CACA
2021 – 2024 Chairman, Nano-oncology Professional Committee of CACA
2021 – Now Editorial Board Member, Exploration
2019 – Now Chairman (2020)/Board Member, China Local Chapter, Controlled Release Society (CRS)
2017 – 2025 Member of Council, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association (CPA)
2017 – 2021 Chairman-designate of the Nano-oncolog Professional Committee of CACA
2015 – 2024 Vice Chairman of the Nanomedicine Professional Committee of the CPA
2014 – Now Editorial Board Member, Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AJPS)
2013 – 2024 Standing Committee Member, Gene Therapy Branch, China Medical Biotechnology Association
2012 – 2017 Vice Chairman of the Nano-oncolog Professional Committee of CACA
2011 – Now Editorial Board Member, Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (APS B)
2011 – 2022 Standing Committee Member, the Nanotoxicology Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Toxicology
2011 – 2024 Vice Chairman of the Pharmaceutics Professional Committee of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association
2011 – 2023 Member of Council, Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association
2010 – 2023 Director of the Nanobiopharmaceutical Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance
2010 – Now Member of Council, Chinese Local Chapter, CRS
2006 – 2023 Member/Senior Member of the Pharmaceutics Professional Committee of the CPA
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Awards & Honors
2025 – European Academy of Sciences (EurASc), Non-EU Member
2024 – Special Contribution Award of the 18th China Pharmaceutical Development Award
2024 – Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials (FIAAM)
2024 – The Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
2023 – The TOP 5 of the Top 100 Chinese Pharmaceutical Experts with the highest Academic Influence (Global Scholars Database)
2023 – Shanghai Pudong New Area "Pearl Leading Talents"
2023 – The APSB 2023 Best Reviewer Award
2022 – First Prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award
2022 – 17th Shanghai Science and Technology Elite Award
2022 – Wu Jieping Pharmaceutical Innovation Award
2022 – Chief Scientist of National Key R&D Program
2021 – Now, Highly Cited Scientist (Elsevier & Clarivate)
2021 – 2022 The TOP 4 of the Top 100 Chinese Pharmaceutical Experts with the highest Academic Influence (Global Scholars Database)
2021 – 2024 World Top 2% Scientist (Released by Stanford University)
2020 – Second Prize of National Natural Science Award
2020 – First Prize of Science and Technology Award of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association (CPA)
2019 – Mount Taishan Scholar Distinguished Expert
2018 – Wu Jieping-Paul Janssen Medical & Pharmaceutical Award
2018 – CPA-Yiling Biomedical Innovation Award
2017 – National Leading Talent of Scientific Innovation
2016 – Leader of the Innovation Team in Key Areas of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)
2016 – Experts with Special Government Subsidies from the State Council
2015 – Academic leader of the Innovation Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
2015 – First Prize of Science and Technology Award of CPA
2015 – Distinguished Young-Middle Age Scientists in China
2015 – Distinguished Professor in CAS
2013 – First Prize of Science and Technology Award of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association
2013 – Wu-xi Life & Chemistry Award
2011 – The Outstanding Academic Leader of Shanghai
2010 – The Leading Talent of Shanghai
2010 – Zhu Liyuehua Award for Excellent Teachers, CAS
2010/2011/2012/2014 – Excellent Supervisor, CAS
2009 – First Prize of Science and Technology Award of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association
2009 – Winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
2009 – Chief Scientist of the National Major Scientific Research Program (973)
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Publications
Selected Publications
1.Wenzhe Yi, Xindi Qian, Wenlu Yan, Dan Yan, Zhiwen Zhao, Fang Sun, Qi Zhao*, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. A plant vesicle-dendritic cell chimera for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Nat Commun, 2026. Doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73788-5
2.Xiaoxuan Xu, Xiangshi Sun, Wenzhe Yi, Zhiwen Zhao, Jialin Duan, Ting Wu, Xiaoting Shan, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. In situ generation of NKG2D CAR T/NK cells via a tumor-targeted lipoplex for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Sci Bull, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2026.08.006
3.Xindi Qian, Wenzhe Yi, Wenlu Yan, Ying Cai, Shuangshuang Hu, Dan Yan, Zhiwen Zhao, Rongzhang Li, Liying Wang*, Huixiong Xu*, Yaping Li*. Cryo-shocked Tumor-Reprogrammed Sonosensitive Antigen-Presenting Cells Improving Sonoimmunotherapy via T cells and NK cells immunity. Adv Mater, 2025, 37,e2413289
4.Binyu Zhu, Ying Cai,, Lingli Zhou, Lei Zhao, Jiameng Chen, Xiaoting Shan, Xujie Sun, Qian You, Xiang Gong, Wen Zhang, Helen He Zhu, Pengcheng Zhang*, Yaping Li*. Injectable supramolecular hydrogel co-loading abemaciclib/NLG919 for neoadjuvant immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer. Nat Commun, 2025, 16, 687
5.Ying Cai, Tiantian Xu, Binyu Zhu, Junfan Chen, Linyang Jiang, Xiaoting Shan, Rong Rong, Yao Li, Yang Yu, Xin Gao, Helen He Zhu, Lu Zhang*, Pengcheng Zhang*, Yaping Li*. Conformation influences biological fates of peptide-based nanofilaments by modulating protein adsorption and interfilament entanglement. Adv Mater 2024, 2409130
6.Wenlu Yan, Ying Cao, Shanshan Xu, Yu Li, Ting Wu, Wenhui Yuan, Qi Yin *, Yaping Li*. Personalized multi-epitope nanovaccine unlocks B cell-mediated multiple pathways of antitumor immunity. Adv Mater 2024, 2411361
7.Ying Cai, Binyu Zhu, Xiaoting Shan, Lingli Zhou, Xujie Sun, Anqi Xia, Binhao Wu, Yang Yu, Helen He Zhu, Pengcheng Zhang*, Yaping Li*. Inhibiting endothelial cell-mediated T lymphocyte apoptosis with integrin-targeting peptide-drug conjugate filaments for chemoimmunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer. Adv Mater 2024, 36, 2306676
8.Xiaoting Shan, Ying Cai, Binyu Zhu, Lingli Zhou, Xujie Sun, Xiaoxuan Xu, Qi Yin, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. Rational strategies for improving the efficiency of design and discovery of nanomedicines. Nat Commun 2024, 15, 9990
9.Tianqun Lang, Runqi Zhu, Xiao Zhu, Wenlu Yan, Yu Li, Yihui Zhai, Ting Wu, Xin Huang, Qi Yin*, Yaping Li*. Combining gut microbiota modulation and chemotherapy by capecitabine-loaded prebiotic nanoparticle improves colorectal cancer therapy. Nat Commun 2023,14,4746
10.Lei Zhou, Wenzhe Yi, Zehong Zhang, Xiaoting Shan, Zitong Zhao, Xiangshi Sun, Jue Wang, Hao Wang, Hualiang Jiang, Mingyue Zheng*, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. STING agonist-boosted mRNA immunization via intelligent design of nanovaccines for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Natl Sci Rev 2023, 10, nwad214
11.Wenzhe Yi, Ping Xiao, Xiaochen Liu, Zitong Zhao, Xiangshi Sun, Jue Wang, Lei Zhou, Guanru Wang, Haiqiang Cao, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. Designing active targeting and multi-functional drug delivery system via bioorthogonal chemistry. Sig Transduct Target Ther 2022, 7, 386
12.Zitong Zhao, Lei Fang, Ping Xiao, Xiangshi Sun, Lei Zhou, Xiaochen Liu, Jue Wang, Guanru Wang, Haiqiang Cao, Pengcheng Zhang, Yanyan Jiang,* Dangge Wang,* and Yaping Li*. Walking dead tumor cells for targeted drug delivery against lung metastasis of triple negative breast cancer. Adv Mater, 2022,34, 2205462.
13.Yuqi Wang, Yao Wu, Honglei Xie, Shuzhou Xu, Yongping Li, Jie Li, Xiaoxuan Xu, Siling Wang*, Yaping Li*, Zhiwen Zhang*. Bioinspired lipoproteins of furoxans-oxaliplatin remodels physical barriers in tumor to potentiate T-cell infiltration. Adv Mater 2022,34, 21106144
14.Yihui Zhai, JinmingWang,Tianqun Lang, Ying Kong, RongRong, Ying Cai,Wei Ran, FengqinXiong, Chao Zheng,Yanke Wang, Yang Yu, Helen H. Zhu, Pengcheng Zhang*, Yaping Li*. T lymphocyte membrane-decorated epigenetic nanoinducer of IFNs for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Nanotech. 2021,16,1271-1280
15.Ping Xiao, Jue Wang, Lei Fang, Zitong Zhao, Xiangshi Sun, Xiaochen Liu, Haiqiang Cao, Pengcheng Zhang, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. Nanovaccine-mediated cell selective delivery of neoantigens potentiating adoptive dendritic cell transfer for personalized immunization. Adv Funct Mater 2021,31,2104068
16.Pengcheng Zhang, Yaping Li*. Erythrocyte-mediated systemic immunotherapy. Nat Biomed Eng 2021,5,385
17.Junyang Wang, Chao ZhengYihuiZhai, Ying Cai Robert J. Lee, Jianming Xing, Hao Wang, Helen. Zhu, LeshengTeng,*, Yaping Li,* Pengcheng Zhang,* High-density lipoprotein modulatestumor-associated macrophage for chemoimmunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Nano Today 2021,37,101064
18.Lei Fang, Zitong Zhao, Jue Wang, Pengcheng Zhang, Yaping Ding, Yanyan Jiang, Dangge Wang*, Yaping Li*. Engineering autologous tumourcellvaccine to locally mobilize antitumourimmunity in tumour surgical bed. Sci Adv 2020, 6, eaba4024
19.Lei Zhou, Pengcheng Zhang, Hao Wang, Dangge Wang*，Yaping Li*. Smart nanosized drug delivery systems inducing immunogenic cell death for combination with cancer immunotherapy. Acc Chem Res 2020,53,1761-72
20.Jie Li, Hong Wang, Yuqi Wang, Xiang Gong, XiaoxuanXu,XianyiSha, Ao Zhang*, Zhiwen Zhang*, Yaping Li*. Tumor-activated size-enlargeable bioinspired lipoproteins access cancer cells in tumor to elicit anti-tumor immune responses. Adv Mater 2020,32,2002380
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