Research Detail
August 2026
Congratulations to Dr. Jianping Li for receiving the 2nd NIH/NCI RO1 grant. Thank NIH/NCI for this great support!
July 2026
Welcome, Sulagna Sanyal, PhD, to join our lab as a postdoctoral fellow.
Sulagna received her doctoral degree from the Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics at the University of Calcutta, India, where her research focused on epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in cancer and other cellular contexts. She subsequently completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, investigating transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of B-cell identity and lineage commitment. She joined the Li Lab at Thomas Jefferson University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2026, where she studies clinically relevant questions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Her long-term goal is to translate mechanistic discoveries in ALL into insights that can inform improved therapeutic strategies for patients. Sulagna enjoys spending her free time with her two cats, baking, and exploring hiking trails around Philly.
June 2026
Congratulations to Dr. Jianping Li for receiving the Sidney and Caroline Kimmel Research Jump-Start Pilot Award for a research project on CART cells in relapsed ALL. Thank SKMC for this support!
Congratulations to Siva (Venkata) Dasuri for receiving The Dean’s Research Award!
February 2026
Welcome, Brianne Barker, PhD, to join our lab as a postdoctoral fellow.
Brianne received her Bachelor of Science in Biology (High Honors) from Lehigh University in 2018. After receiving her Master of Science in Immunology (First Class Honors) from Trinity College Dublin in 2021, Brianne stayed to pursue her PhD in Clinical Medicine under the supervision of Prof. Ursula Fearon. Her research focused on how fibroblast diversity and metabolism contribute to the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. She joined Thomas Jefferson University as a postdoctoral researcher in 2026 and is passionate about translating lab bench science into clinical treatments for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
January 2026
Congratulations to Samuel Sey, PhD student, for receiving the Best Poster Award at the IRT Retreat meeting!
Congratulations to Kevin (Zhengyang) Sun, MD/PhD student, for receiving the Best Poster Award at the IRT Retreat meeting!
Welcome, Julia Harris, PhD, to join our lab as a Research Assistant.
Julia is a student in the BS/MD program between Pennsylvania State University and Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College. She joined the lab in January 2026 for a gap semester before medical school. She is interested in studying the role of NSD2 mutations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
December 2025
Congratulations to Kevin (Zhengyang) Sun for receiving the Best Poster Award in the 1st PhD year cohort at the 16th Annual MD/PhD Retreat meeting!
August 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Jianping Li on receiving his first NIH/NCI RO1, which was converted to an R37 MERIT Award to fund his lab research on NSD2 mutations in leukemia transformation for 7 years. Thank NIH/NCI for this great support!
Welcome Coltin Albitz, PhD student of Biochemistry, Structural & Molecular Biology program, to join our lab for rotation. Coltin received his Bachelor’s degree of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Major in Mathematics, at Dickinson College in 2023. He subsequently joined The Wistar Institute, where he conducted research with a focus on DNA damage sensing and repair in the context of viral genome maintenance in cancer cells. In August 2025, Coltin joined Thomas Jefferson University to pursue his PhD. Welcome Coltin!
Welcome Noah Bales, PhD student of Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology program, to join our lab for rotation. Noah received his Bachelor’s degree of Science in Biology at Abilene Christian University in 2023. He subsequently joined Casava Sciences and Uniwell Laboratories LLC as research technician. In August 2025, Noah joined Thomas Jefferson University to pursue his PhD. Welcome Noah!
July 2025
Welcome Samuel Sey, PhD student, to join our lab after rotation. Sam received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2020 and worked as a research scientist in tropical medicine in his country, Ghana, after completion. He later moved to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue a Master’s degree in Biology (Molecular Biology Concentration) at Adelphi University in New York. He interned with Northwell Health on Long Island and joined Thomas Jefferson University for his PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology in August 2024. Welcome Sam!
Welcome Ahana Patel, a high school student, to join our lab as a volunteer. Ahana is interested in biology and plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in biology. Welcome Ahana!
June 2025
Welcome Annie Zhong, a high school student, to join our lab as a volunteer. Annie is interested in science and how research applies to real-world challenges. Outside the lab, she is an active community volunteer and enjoys reading and thoughtful discussion.
May 2025
Welcome Francis Picone, PhD student, to join our lab for rotation. Francis received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Rowan University in 2020. He subsequently joined The Wistar Institute, where he conducted research with a focus on epigenetics. In August 2024, Francis joined Thomas Jefferson University to pursue his PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology. Welcome Francis!
April 2025
Welcome Samuel Sey, PhD student, to join our lab for rotation. Sam received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2020 and worked as a research scientist in tropical medicine in his country, Ghana, after completion. He later moved to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue a Master’s degree in Biology (Molecular Biology Concentration) at Adelphi University in New York. He interned with Northwell Health on Long Island and joined Thomas Jefferson University for his PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology in August 2024. Welcome Sam!
Dr. Jianping Li, in collaboration with Dr. Xuejun Tian, received a Developmental Fund award for epigenetic regulations in lymphoid neoplasms from the Immune Cell Regulation and Targeting (IRT) Program at SKCCC. Thank you, IRT, for your support!
December 2024
Our collaborative paper was published in Nucleic Acid Research.
Berardi A*, Kaestner CL*, Ghitti M*, Quilici G, Cocomazzi P, Li J, Ballabio F, Zucchelli C, Knapp S, Licht JD, Musco G. The C-terminal PHDVC5HCH tandem domain of NSD2 is a combinatorial reader of unmodified H3K4 and tri-methylated H3K27 that regulates transcription of cell adhesion genes in multiple myeloma. Nucleic Acids Research. 2024 Dec 5; https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae1121.
Dr. Jianping Li, in collaboration with Dr. Ellen Fraint of Nemours Children’s Hospital, received a pilot grant award from the Blood Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCE) at SKCCC. Thank you, BCCE, for your support!
November 2024
Dr. Jianping joined the CHOP Research Institute Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis Research Affinity Group (RAG) and presented our research findings about NSD2 mutation in relapsed ALL.
Jianping received The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust (the Trust) grant to support the research project “Novel biomarker of NSD2 mutation-driven acute lymphoblastic leukemia”. Thank you, The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust Foundation, for your support!
October 2024
Dr. Jianping received the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS-IRG) award to support his research on the role of NSD2 mutation in ALL! Thank you, ACS-IRG, for your support!
September 2024
Welcome Venkata (Siva) Dasuri, MD student, to join our lab. Siva is in the Academic Program- Combined BS/MD 7-year program. He just received his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and joined Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College in July 2024. Siva also had a one-year research internship at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Welcome Siva!
Welcome Brianna Gipson, MD student, to join our lab. Brianna received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (High Honors) at Lehigh University in 2021. She then had 3 years of research experience at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Brianna joined Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College in July 2024. Welcome Brianna!
August 2024
Welcome Seung Hyen Eun, Postbaccalaureate, to join our lab. Seung received his bachelor’s degree in Operations Research and Information Engineering at Cornell University. He is a Postbaccalaureate Pre-Professional Program (P4) student at Jefferson College of Life Sciences. Welcome Seung!
July 2024
Welcome Sihem Nadour, Undergraduate Student, to join our lab. Sihem recently graduated with a major in Biotechnology from Montgomery County Community College and joined Dr. Li’s Lab in July 2024. She is currently planning to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Thomas Jefferson University and focusing on targeting therapy in NSD2 mutant acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Welcome Sihem!
Our first collaborative paper was published in Nature Chemical Biology.
Nie DY*, Tabor JR*, Li J, Kutera M, St-Germain J, Hanley RP, Wolf EZ, Paulakonis E, Kenney TMG, Duan S, Shrestha S, Owens DDG, Pon A, Szewczyk M, Lamberto AJ, Menes M, Li F, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Brown NG, Barsotti AM, Stamford AW, Collins JL, Wilson DJ, Raught B, Licht J, James L, Arrowsmith C. Recruitment of FBXO22 for Targeted Degradation of NSD2. Nat Chem Biol. 2024 Jul 4. doi: 10.1038/s41589-024-01660-y. Online ahead of print.
Our collaborative paper was published in Blood.
Dupere-Richer D, Riva A, Barwick BG, Maji S, Casellas Roman H, Li J, De U, Sobh A, Quickstad G, Piper C, Kulis M, Ezponda T, Martín-Subero JI, Tonon G, Zhang W, Mitsiades CS, Boise LH, Bennett RL, Licht JD. KDM6A Regulates Immune Response Genes in Multiple Myeloma. Blood. 2024 Jul 24: blood.2024024518. Online ahead of print.
June 2024
Welcome Joseph (Todd) Fredericks, Undergraduate Student, to join our lab. Todd joined Dr. Li’s lab in June 2024 through a biomedical training program at The Wistar Institute. He is currently in the Jefferson College of Health Professionals at Thomas Jefferson University, where he is earning his BS and MS in biotechnology and focusing on NSD2 mutation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Welcome Todd!
Dr. Jianping received the Charles W. Hevner Memorial Fund Award!
April 2024
Welcome Tian Yuan, our first postdoc fellow, to join our lab. Tian obtained her M.D. at Central South University in 2010 and her Ph.D. in Hematology from Peking Union Medical College in 2013. She received postdoctoral training for about two years at MD Anderson Cancer Center and became very skillful at molecular and cellular biological experiments. Welcome Tian!
March 2024
Dr. Jianping Li was invited to present his lab work at the Next epiGEN Series at Fox Chase Cancer Center, with the topic “Histone methylation and glucocorticoid resistance in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”
December 2023
Welcome Zongxiu (Lisa) Zhang, our first lab member, to join our lab. Lisa has been working at Thomas Jefferson University for more than ten years. She has expertise in animal experiments and genotyping, cell culture, DNA, RNA, protein extraction, real-time PCR, western blot, histology, and molecular cloning. Welcome Lisa!
November 2023
Our first collaborative paper at TJU is online on bioRxiv.
Nie DY*, Tabor JR*, Li J, Kutera M, St-Germain J, Hanley RP, Wolf EZ, Paulakonis E, Kenney TMG, Duan S, Shrestha S, Owens DDG, Pon A, Szewczyk M, Lamberto AJ, Menes M, Li F, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Brown NG, Barsotti AM, Stamford AW, Collins JL, Wilson DJ, Raught B, Licht J, James L, Arrowsmith C. Recruitment of FBXO22 for Targeted Degradation of NSD2. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 30. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.01.564830.
November 2023
The Jianping Li Lab opened its door at 802 in the Bluemle Life Sciences Building (BLSB) in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) in Philadelphia. Dr. Jianping Li became one of the members of the Blood Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCE) at the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC) at Jefferson Health.
