Research Assistant Professor

PolyU Scholars Hub

Dr Julie LI

BVetMed (ZJU), MPhil (UCAS), PhD (CUHK)

ST524
+852 2766 4842
ye-julie.li@polyu.edu.hk
Sports Science and Musculoskeletal Health

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Biography

Dr Ye Li (Julie) received her Ph.D. in Orthopaedics and Traumatology from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prior to that, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University and MPhil degree from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with particular interest in the effects and mechanism of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and exercise intervention on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In addition, her research interests cover the application of wearable devices in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, as well as the development and translation of traditional Chinese medicine and biomaterials for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.

As of July 2026, she has published over 60 papers (including 22 with impact factors greater than 10), 2 book chapters, and has been granted 3 patents. Her Google Scholar H-index is 23 . As Principal Investigator (PI), she has secured multiple research grants from funding bodies including the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), and industry-partnered projects, with a cumulative funding of approximately HKD 3 million. As Co-Investigator (Co-I), she has participated in projects totalling about HKD 13 million. Her research achievements have been honoured with several academic awards, including the Best Poster Award at the Chinese Society for Cell Biology Conference on Magnetobiology, the Highly Cited Paper Award from the Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, the Memorial "Shihao Liu-xianyi Zhu" Best Paper Award, and the Geneva Invention Award.

Dr Li serves as a committee member of the Rehabilitation Devices and Biomaterials Division of the Chinese Society for Biomaterials, and as a Young Committee Member of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine. In 2025, she was awarded lifetime membership of the International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society (ICMRS). She is also a Youth Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, a peer-review expert for the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and a reviewer for numerous international peer-reviewed journals, including Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Collagen and Leather, Phytomedicine, Pharmacological Research, Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, Bioactive Materials, Biomaterials, Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, Chemical Engineering Journal, et al.. Dr Li warmly welcomes Ph.D. candidates who are interested in musculoskeletal rehabilitation research.

Education and Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University
• Master of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy in Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professional Qualifications

Practising Veterinary Surgeon

Research Interests

Research Output

Pang Q, Zhou R, Li Y (co-first author), et al. Elevated calcitonin gene-related peptide expression through prostaglandin E2-EP4 receptor pathway in promoting proliferative periosteum formation in primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2026, 58: 101096.
Jin R, Zhang J, Wang Y, et al. , Li Y(corresponding author), Wang D, Xue L. EZH2 in non-cancerous diseases: Expanding horizons. Protein & Cell, 2025: pwaf032.
Cao S, Wei Y, Xiong A, Yue Y, Yang J, Wang D, Liu X, Zeng H, Shi D, Li Y(corresponding author), Paeonol inhibits ACSL4 to protect chondrocytes from ferroptosis and F ameliorates osteoarthritis progression, Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2025, 50: 1-13.
Yao Z, Chen Z, He X, Wei Y, Qian J, Zong Q, He S, Song L, Ma L, Lin S, Li L, Xue L, Fu S, Zhang J., Li Y(corresponding author), D WANG. Bioactive MgO/MgCO3/Polycaprolactone Multi-gradient Fibers Facilitate Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Regulating Schwann Cell Function and Activating Wingless/integrase-1 Signaling. Advanced Fiber Materials. 2025, 7(1): 315-337.
Chen Z, Yao Z, Wu M, et al., Li Y(corresponding author), Xue L, Wang D. Epigenetic reprogramming via EZH2 inhibition rescues fibroadipose pathogenesis in secondary lymphedema through activating PPARγ signaling. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2025, 55: 309-322.
Fan T, Xia P, Ahmed S, Tsang Y, Yao Z, Wang D, Chen Z, Xue L, Shi D, Wang B, Cheung C, Pang Y, Li Y(corresponding author), Fu S. Wavelength-dependent photobiomodulation attenuates synovial inflammation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes and a collagenase-induced osteoarthritis model. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2025, 113276.
Fan T, Xia P, Ahmed S, Tsang Y, Li Y(corresponding author), Fu S. Optimizing LED photobiomodulation parameters to prevent cartilage matrix degradation in knee osteoarthritis: in vitro and in vivo study. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 20(1), 933. 2025.
Li Y, Xu J, Mi J, He X, Pan Q, Zheng L, Zu H, Chen Z, Dai B, Li X, Pang Q, Zou L, Zhou L, Huang L, Tong W, Li G, Qin L. Biodegradable magnesium combined with distraction osteogenesis synergistically stimulates bone tissue regeneration via CGRP-FAK-VEGF signaling axis. Biomaterials, 2021, 275: 120984.
Li Y, Li L, Li Y (co-first author), Feng L, Wang B, Wang M, Wang H, Zhu M, Yang Y, Waldorff E, Zhang N, Viohl I, Lin S, Bian L, Lee W, Li G. Enhancing cartilage repair with optimized hydrogel-based scaffold with pulsed electromagnetic field. Bioactive Materials, 2023, 22: 312-324.
Li Y, Pan Q, Xu J, Li G, Qin L. Overview of methods for enhancing bone regeneration in distraction osteogenesis: Potential roles of biometals. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2021, 27: 110-118.
Lai Y, Li Y (co-first author), Cao H, Long J, Wang X, Li L, Li C, Jia Q, Teng B, Tang T, Peng J, Eglin D, Alini M, Grijpma D, Richards G, Qin L. Osteogenic magnesium incorporated into PLGA/TCP porous scaffold by 3D printing for repairing challenging bone defect. Biomaterials, 2019, 197: 207-219.
Li Y, Chen SK, Li L, Qin L, Wang X, Lai Y. Bone defect animal models for testing efficacy of bone substitute biomaterials. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2015, 3(3): 95-104.
Chen B, Sun Y, Xu Z, et al. Li Y, et al. Motion Intention Recognition and DDPG-Based Adaptive Impedance Control for a Robotic Upper-Limb Exoskeleton[J]. IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering: a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.
Li X, Dai B, Guo J, Zhu Y, Xu J, Xu S, Yao Z, Chang L, Li Y, He X, Chow D, Zhang S, Yao H, Tong W, Ngai T, Qin L. Biosynthesized bandages carrying magnesium oxide nanoparticles induce cortical bone formation by modulating endogenous periosteal cells. ACS Nano, 2022.
Yao Z, Yuan W, Xu J, Tong W, Mi J, Chow H, Ho P, Li Y, Yao H, Li X, Xu S, Guo J, Zhu Q, Bian L, Qin L. Magnesium‐encapsulated injectable hydrogel and 3D‐engineered polycaprolactone conduit facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration. Advanced Science, 2022: 2202102.
Pang Q, Xu Y, Huang L, Li Y, Lin Y, Hou Y, Hung V, Qi X, Ni X, Li M, Jiang Y, Wang O, Xing X, Qin L, Xia W. Bone geometry, density, microstructure and biomechanical properties in the distal tibia in patients with primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy assessed by second-generation HR-pQCT. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2022, 37(3): 484-493.
Dai B, Xu J, Li X, Huang L, Hopkins C, Wang H, Yao H, Mi J, Zheng L, Wang J, Tong W, Chow H, He X, Li Y, He X, Hu P, Chen Z, Zu H, Li Y, Yao Y, Jiang Q, Qin L. Macrophages in epididymal adipose tissue secrete osteopontin to regulate bone homeostasis. Nature Communication, 2022, 13(1): 1-17.
Mi J, Xu J, Yao Z, Yao H, Li Y, He X, Dai B, Zou L, Tong W, Zhang X, Hu P, Ruan Y, Tang N, Guo X, Zhao J, He J, Qin L. Implantable electrical stimulation at dorsal root ganglions accelerates osteoporotic fracture healing via calcitonin gene-related peptide. Advance Science, 2022, 9(1): 2103005.
He X, Li Y, Guo J, Xu J, Zu H, Huang L, Ong M, Yung S, Qin L. Biomaterials developed for facilitating healing outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Efficacy, surgical protocols, and assessments using preclinical animal models. Biomaterials, 2020: 120625.
Xu J, Wang J, Chen X, Li Y, Mi J, Qin L. The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on bone homeostasis and regeneration. Current Osteoporosis Reports, 2020, 18(6): 621-632.
Cao HJ, Zheng LZ, Wang N, Wang L, Li Y, Li D, Lai Y, Wang X, Qin L. Src blockage by siRNA inhibits VEGF-induced vascular hyperpermeability and osteoclast activity – An in vitro mechanism study for preventing destructive repair of osteonecrosis. Bone, 2015, 74: 58-68.