Shili Xu

Office location: 2151 CNSI, Crump Institute
570 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Lab location: 2120, 2112, 2128, 2200 CNSI, Crump Institute
570 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Dr. Shili Xu received a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.S. in Economics from Peking University. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California where he studied small-molecule drug design and discovery. He then studied cell metabolism, molecular imaging, and synthetic lethality for cancer therapy in a variety of small animal models as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He is currently Director of Preclinical Imaging in the Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, and Assistant Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA.

Research Description:

My team focuses on the development of in vivo state-of-the-art molecular imaging technologies including positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT) and optical (fluorescence and bioluminescence) imaging. We apply these technologies for non-invasive assessment of cancer, immune response, neurological disorders, cardiology, and associated biology, as well as preclinical probe and drug development in small animal models. Specifically, we have developed a broad spectrum of PET probes and reporter genes to preclinically image cell metabolism, monitor cell trafficking and activation, disease progression, and profile drug pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics and tracer kinetics.