Chunyi Li

Dr Chunyi Li received his master’s degree from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 1985 and his PhD (stem cells and full antler regeneration) from the Medical School of the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 1997. Subsequently he was employed as a senior scientist by AgResearch New Zealand to further his research on deer antler biology. In 2013 he returned to China to take the position of executive director of State Key Lab for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, China. After completion of his contract term with the Key Lab, he joined Changchun Sci-Tech University and established the Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology as the founding director. Through years of antler research, he came to realize that antlers are a fascinating biomedical research model. During the course of his investigations, Dr Li has published over 140 papers (including a full article in the journal “Science”) in peer-reviewed SCI journals (mainly as the first or corresponding author), attended over 30 relevant conferences (keynote speaker), and co-authored 4 books. A highlight of Dr Li’s career is his delivery of the plenary lectures in many international conferences. He thinks that the biggest contribution he has made through these years of antler research is the promotion of the antler model to the biomedical research society. Dr Li believes his promotion of the antler model has the potential to greatly benefit both basic science and medical application.