Jiayi Li, Ph.D.

Jiayi Li, Ph.D., is a Technical Advisor in the firm’s Chemical Patent Prosecution group where she focuses on drafting patent applications for both domestics and international clients. With a strong background in organic and medicinal chemistry, Dr. Li leverages her extensive graduate/post-graduate research and regulatory experience to offer expertise across a wide range of areas, including organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and life sciences.

Dr. Li obtained her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Her doctoral research focused on the development of stereoselective glycosylation reactions using small organic molecules as catalysts. This work involved organic synthesis, computational modeling, and intermediate identification, leading to the discovery of new reaction mechanisms. Additionally, Dr. Li investigated synthetic carbohydrate memetics both in silico and in vitro targeting heparanase inhibition. After completing her Ph.D., she joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral researcher, where she focused on developing methods in photocatalysis.

Prior to joining the firm, Dr. Li was awarded an ORISE fellowship in the Center of Drug Evaluation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Her work involved development of validated analytical methods to assess the identity, composition, content, and higher order or microstructure of complex drugs employing a range of techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC).

Education

• Wayne State University (Ph.D.)
  • Organic Chemistry
• University of Iowa (B.S.)
  • Chemical Engineering

Technical Publications

• Yu, F.; Li, J.; DeMent, P. M.; Tu, Y.; Schlegel, H. B.; Nguyen, H. M. “Phenanthroline-Catalyzed Stereoretentive Glycosylations.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58(21), 6957-6961
• Zhu, S.; Li, J.; Loka, R. S.; Vlodavsky, I.; Zhang, K.; Nguyen, H. M. “Modulating Heparanase Activity: Tuning Sulfation Pattern and Glycosidic Linkage of Oligosaccharides.” J. Med. Chem. 2020, 63(8), 4227-4255
• Li, J.; Nguyen, H. M. “A Mechanistic Probe into 1,2-cis Glycoside Formation Catalyzed by Phenanthroline and Further Expansion of Scope.” Adv. Synth. Catal. 2021, 363(16), 4054-4066
• Xu, H.; Schaugaard, R. N.*; Li, J.*; Schlegel, H. B.; Nguyen, H. M. “Phenanthroline-Catalyzed Stereoselective 1,2-cis Furanosylations.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144(16), 7441-7456
• Li, J.; Nguyen, H. M. “Phenanthroline Catalysis in Stereoselective 1,2-cis Glycosylations.” Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, 55(24), 3788-3751
• Abdulsalam, H.; Li, J.; Loka, Ravi S.; Sletten, E. T.; Nguyen, H. M. "Sulfated Glucosamine-Glucuronic Acid Disaccharide Functionalized Polymers Have a High Affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein.” ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2023, 14, 1411-1418.
• Wang, D.; Li, J.; Chen, K. Intact NMR Approach Quickly Reveals Synchronized Microstructural Changes in Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Formulations. AAPS J. 2024, 26, 78.
• Li, J.; Chen, F.; Zhang, D.; Wang, Y.; Kozak, D.; Chen, K.; “An Accurate and Fast Quantitative 31P NMR Assay Method for Oligonucleotide Therapeutics.” Anal. Chem. 2024, 96(42), 16514-16519

Languages

• Chinese - Mandarin
• Chinese - Cantonese

Services

• U.S. Patent Procurement (Application Drafting & Prosecution)

Technologies

• Chemicals
• Life Sciences