Dean Li, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Li is the H.A. & Edna Benning Endowed Professor of Medicine and Cardiology and the Director of the Molecular Medicine Program at the University of Utah. Dr. Li was a co-founder of Hydra Biosciences in 2001 and was head of research and development until the end of 2003.   Hydra Biosciences is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs through leveraging its expertise in ion channels and molecular regeneration. Dr. Li maintains his role as member of the scientific advisory board.  He was the director of the Vascular Biotherapeutics Center of Excellence sponsored by the State of Utah Department of Economic Development.

Dr. Li is the recipient of multiple honors including the Established Investigator Award by the American Heart Association and Clinical Scientist Award in Translation Medicine from the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation.  He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigators.  He is the author of multiple manuscripts published in peer reviewed journals including Science and Nature.

Dr. Li received an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago.  He earned his MD and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis and completed his residency in Internal Medicine and was a clinical fellow in Cardiology at Barnes Hospital at Washington University Medical Center.