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Dr. Qin Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the immune system's ability to discriminate self from non-self molecules, particularly how cells utilize sensors to recognize patterns found in pathogens. His studies on the MDA5 cytosolic receptor, which recognizes viral double-stranded RNAs and activates antiviral responses, shed light on the role of RNA editing catalyzed by ADAR in avoiding unwanted autoimmunity. His work has revealed that loss-of-function mutations in ADAR can lead to autoimmune diseases, while MDA5 activation can be beneficial in cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Li's postdoctoral training included the discovery of RNA editing quantitative trait loci that are enriched in GWAS signals for inflammatory diseases. His lab's research combines computational and experimental approaches to understand the mechanisms by which immune systems distinguish self from non-self RNAs, and their contributions to inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
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