Research Summary

Dr. Michael Li is a transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist who specializes in caring for patients with cirrhosis, autoimmune liver disease, and liver cancer.

Dr. Li’s research focuses on the relationship between the immune system and liver disease. This includes autoimmune diseases like primary sclerosing cholangitis as well as the use of immunotherapy to treat liver cancer. He seeks to perform meaningful clinical and translational research to achieve a better understanding of immune-mediated liver diseases.

Dr. Li earned his medical degree at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, during which he also earned his MPH degree from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. He then completed a fellowship in transplant hepatology at UCSF before becoming a faculty member in the UCSF Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Research Funding

  • September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2031 - Predicting early adverse outcomes and discovering biomarkers of treatment toxicity versus treatment response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: K08CA300357

Education

Fellowship, 2022 - Transplant Hepatology, The University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship, 2021 - Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital
MPH, 2021 - Clinical Effectiveness, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Residency, 2018 - Internal Medicine, The Mount Sinai Hospital
MD, 2015 - , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
BS, 2010 - Biology, Brown University

Honors & Awards

  • Pilot Research Award, American Gastroenterological Association, 2023
  • Pilot/Feasibility Award, UCSF Liver Center, 2023
  • Clinical Research Pilot Study Award, American College of Gastroenterology, 2021
  • AASLD Foundation Fellow Abstract Award, Digestive Disease Week, 2021
  • Best of the Liver Meeting, Basic and Translational Research, AASLD, 2020
  • Honors in Research, Mount Sinai Internal Medicine, 2018
  • Presidential Poster of Distinction, AASLD, 2014
  • Howard Hughes Medical Research Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2013-2014
  • Mount Sinai Research Scholars Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2011
  • Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award, Brown University, 2008
  • Summer Medical and Research Training Program Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, 2007

Selected Publications

  1. Jutras G, Far A, Wang M, Li M, Ge J, Lai JC. Tumor burden and frailty: No association in liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma. View on PubMed
  2. Hu MD, Chiou SH, Delk M, Fenton C, Lai JC, Li M. Physical Function as Assessed by the Liver Frailty Index Remains Stable Over Time in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Locoregional Therapies. View on PubMed
  3. Li M, Hannan LM, Goyal L, Bocobo AG, Parks AL, Bauer K, Baiev I, Dinicola C, Gordan JD, Venook AP, Harris WP, Bracci P, Kelley RK. Changes in alpha-fetoprotein across the systemic therapy continuum in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma-a real-world, multicenter study. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2024; 16:17588359241297085. View on PubMed
  4. Tabrizian P, Holzner ML, Ajmera V, Kim AK, Zhou K, Schnickel GT, Torosian K, Hoteit M, Marino R, Li M, Yao F, Florman SS, Schwartz ME, Mehta N. Intention-to-treat outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving immunotherapy before liver transplant: The multicenter VITALITY study. J Hepatol. 2025 Mar; 82(3):512-522. View on PubMed
  5. Shifman HP, Hatchett J, Pai RA, Safer R, Gomel R, Vyas M, Li M, Lai JC, Wadhwani SI. Caregiver-reported symptom burden and preferences for therapeutic goals in pediatric primary sclerosing cholangitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Oct; 79(4):835-840. View on PubMed
  6. Li M, Bhoori S, Mehta N, Mazzaferro V. Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: The next evolution in expanding access to liver transplantation. J Hepatol. 2024 Oct; 81(4):743-755. View on PubMed
  7. Li M, Pai RA, Gomel R, Vyas M, Callif SC, Hatchett J, Bowlus CL, Lai JC. Patient-focused drug development in primary sclerosing cholangitis: Insights on patient priorities and involvement in clinical trials. Hepatol Commun. 2024 06 01; 8(6). View on PubMed
  8. Townsend MJ, Benque IJ, Li M, Grover S. Review article: Contemporary management of gastrointestinal, pancreatic and hepatic toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2024 06; 59(11):1350-1365. View on PubMed
  9. Li M, Wong D, Sack JS, Vogel AS, Hodi FS, Fong L, Lai JC, Zucker SD, Grover S. Outcomes of High-Grade Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Hepatitis in Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Patients. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Jul; 22(7):1444-1452.e4. View on PubMed
  10. Ge J, Li M, Delk MB, Lai JC. A Comparison of a Large Language Model vs Manual Chart Review for the Extraction of Data Elements From the Electronic Health Record. Gastroenterology. 2024 04; 166(4):707-709.e3. View on PubMed
  11. Li M, Wong D, Sack JS, Vogel AS, Hodi FS, Fong L, Lai JC, Grover S, Zucker SD. Early Liver Specialist Consultation is Associated With Faster Biochemical Resolution of Severe Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Hepatitis. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2023 06; 21(6):617-626.e3. View on PubMed
  12. Zahir A, Li M, Gill RM, Brandman D. Diagnosis and Management of Drug-Induced Liver Injury After the Use of Polygonum multiflorum. ACG Case Rep J. 2022 Oct; 9(10):e00884. View on PubMed
  13. Vogel AS, Li M, Zucker SD. Aldosterone Antagonist Dosing and the Risk of Hyponatremia in Patients With Cirrhosis and Ascites. Gastro Hep Adv. 2023; 2(1):2-4. View on PubMed
  14. Li M, Wong D, Vogel AS, Sack JS, Rahma OE, Hodi FS, Zucker SD, Grover S. Effect of corticosteroid dosing on outcomes in high-grade immune checkpoint inhibitor hepatitis. Hepatology. 2022 03; 75(3):531-540. View on PubMed
  15. Li M, Sack JS, Bell P, Rahma OE, Srivastava A, Grover S, Zucker SD. Utility of Liver Biopsy in Diagnosis and Management of High-grade Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Hepatitis in Patients With Cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2021 11 01; 7(11):1711-1714. View on PubMed
  16. Bazarbashi AN, Li M, Ryou M. Letter to the Editor: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Coil Therapy for Secondary Prevention After Gastric Variceal Bleeding: A Promising Alternative. Hepatology. 2021 11; 74(5):2914. View on PubMed
  17. Sack JS, Li M, Zucker SD. Bleeding Outcomes Following Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients With Cirrhosis and Esophageal Varices. Hepatol Commun. 2021 02; 5(2):283-292. View on PubMed
  18. Kim D, Adeniji N, Latt N, Kumar S, Bloom PP, Aby ES, Perumalswami P, Roytman M, Li M, Vogel AS, Catana AM, Wegermann K, Carr RM, Aloman C, Chen VL, Rabiee A, Sadowski B, Nguyen V, Dunn W, Chavin KD, Zhou K, Lizaola-Mayo B, Moghe A, Debes J, Lee TH, Branch AD, Viveiros K, Chan W, Chascsa DM, Kwo P, Dhanasekaran R. Predictors of Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease: US Multi-center Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Jul; 19(7):1469-1479.e19. View on PubMed
  19. Li M, Chan WW, Zucker SD. Association Between Atazanavir-Induced Hyperbilirubinemia and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients Infected with HIV. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 10 20; 9(19):e016310. View on PubMed
  20. Li M, Sack JS, Rahma OE, Hodi FS, Zucker SD, Grover S. Outcomes after resumption of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy after high-grade immune-mediated hepatitis. Cancer. 2020 12 01; 126(23):5088-5097. View on PubMed

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