The School of Public Health welcomes Hu Li, MD, PhD, as the newest member of its Partner Advisory Board (PAB), which works to encourage collaborative relationships between the school, employers and community stakeholders.
A physician-scientist, Li (PhD, EPI ’10) earned a medical degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, China. She briefly served as a medical epidemiologist at the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention before enrolling at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.
“I primarily worked in Dr. [Clareann] Bunker’s lab, where I conducted genetic epidemiology studies examining genetic risk factors associated with early-onset or subclinical cardiovascular disease,” says Li. “I learned so much during my time with Dr. Bunker and from all my advisors at Pitt.”
A faculty member in the Department of Epidemiology for more than 30 years, Bunker (PhD, EPI ’84) was a trailblazer, advancing medical research across the globe. Her studies in Nigeria paved the way for improved understanding of cardiac disease risk factors and prevention. Bunker, who died in 2024, also launched a landmark cohort study in Tobago that initially focused on prostate cancer but expanded to include women and other outcomes, including skeletal, metabolic, cardiovascular and cognitive health.
Today, the Tobago health studies are recognized as one of the Caribbean's leading studies of health and aging.
“She was such a wonderful advisor. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor to guide me through this journey,” she says, adding that Bunker’s mentorship was instrumental beyond academic pursuits. “I came to the U.S. with two suitcases. She really cared for me as a person and helped me start a new life here. Everything I’ve achieved today is rooted in what I learned from Dr. Bunker and at Pitt,” says Li.
Today, Li is a lead researcher at Neurocrine Biosciences, a San Diego-based biotechnology company. She oversees the company’s epidemiology and real-world analytics team, which has supported its U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for neurological disorders like tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Additional compounds are in development as treatments for rare and under-addressed neurological diseases.
Li credits her training in epidemiology and human genetics at Pitt with helping her understand key epidemiological factors in rare disorders like CAH, which affects the adrenal glands and presents with varying symptoms depending on genetic and hormonal factors.
“It’s rewarding to see that what I learned 16 years ago at Pitt continue to shape my work today,” says Li, adding that she is equally pleased to bring her industry experience back to Pitt through her role on the PAB. The 14-member board provides guidance across education, research and philanthropic development.
“I can bring an external perspective, help think strategically and identify practical ways we can work together to support students and the school cope with the rapidly changing public health environment,” says Li. “We’ve started to form sub-teams within the board so we can work on concrete next steps and action plans.”