Wei Li

As a computational biologist, the goal of my research laboratory is to understand human genome functions with innovative AI, gene editing, and genomics technologies. I was trained as a computer scientist (bachelor's, master's, Ph.D.), but I built my unique career to become a computational biologist. I developed a series of influential algorithms for gene expression analysis, functional genomics screening, and single-cell perturbation analysis. These analysis methods have been widely used in the community. Working with experimental and clinical scientists, we (1) developed novel computational methods to design CRISPR systems with high efficiency and specificity, (2) pioneered the field to use paired-guide RNAs for screening non-coding RNAs and enhancers, and (3) identified clinically relevant hits and synergistic targets in various disease settings, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumor, and HIV.