Qing Li

2026 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award

Institution: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Nephrology

Project Title: Blocking FGF23-FGFR4 Signaling in a Mouse Model of Nephrotic Syndrome Protects from Cardiac Hypertrophy

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

My research focuses on how nephrotic syndrome affects other organs, especially the heart, by studying signaling pathways such as FGF23-FGFR4 which contribute to cardiac injury.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.

We have established a novel mouse model of nephrotic syndrome, which has cardiac hypertrophy as well as high serum FGF23 levels and hyperlipidemia. I will now test if these events are interconnected with each other. I hypothesize that free fatty acids induce FGF23 expression in the heart, which then drives cardiac hypertrophy and reduces lifespan. If successful, my research might support the development of a novel therapeutic strategy to alleviate cardiac hypertrophy in nephrotic syndrome by blocking FGFR4, which is the FGF23 receptor in the heart.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I developed my interest in inter-organ disease crosstalk during medical school. The complexity of the cardio-renal axis, along with unresolved mechanisms and limited therapeutic strategies, drove me to focus on this area.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?

I hope my research will help identify new therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiac injury in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Ultimately, this work may contribute to lowering cardiovascular risk and improving long-term outcomes for patients with various forms of kidney disease.

What are your career goals at the end of the grant period? Five years out? Ten years out?

By the end of the grant period, my goal is to complete my Ph.D. training and continue developing as an independent kidney disease researcher. In five years, I hope to be conducting translational research that connects clinically relevant questions with mechanistic studies at the bench. In ten years, I aim to lead an independent research program focused on understanding and treating kidney disease and related complications.

What are the major challenges to beginning a career in kidney research today?

Kidney research requires long-term investment, substantial funding, and time to translate laboratory discoveries into clinical use.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.

KidneyCure funding plays an important role in supporting pre-doctoral trainees, helping us continue our research, build confidence, and develop careers dedicated to improving kidney health.

What advice would you give to others to encourage them to apply for this grant funding?

Once you have an idea, write it down and start building your proposal, because taking that first step can open the door to many possibilities.

Something you may not know about me is…

I am a gamer who enjoys exploring new worlds both in video games and in real life.

In my free time I like to…

I like to explore new places, try local foods, and discover the stories behind the places I visit.