Prof. Dr. Xiang Li | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li, Fudan University, China

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li is a distinguished professor at the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Fudan University, Shanghai. A pioneering researcher in breathomics, his work focuses on utilizing exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the early diagnosis of major diseases, especially cancer. With a self-developed high-fidelity breath sampling system and a cutting-edge VOC detection platform, Dr. Li bridges environmental science and medical diagnostics. His research integrates multi-omics and AI to develop personalized breath fingerprints, enabling accurate multi-disease classification models. Beyond clinical applications, he also explores air pollution’s health impact, carbon cycling, and the behavior of emerging pollutants. With over 20 major funded projects, numerous publications, and extensive international collaboration, Dr. Li’s interdisciplinary approach drives innovation in non-invasive diagnostics and environmental health. His work not only contributes to academic excellence but also holds transformative potential for public health and environmental policy worldwide.

Professional Profile

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Assessment of Suitability: Prof. Dr. Xiang Li – Research for Best Researcher Award

Summary of Suitability:

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li stands out as a highly qualified and impactful candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His research career reflects a deep interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of environmental science, analytical chemistry, public health, and medical diagnostics. A major highlight of his work is the innovative application of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in non-invasive disease diagnostics—particularly for cancers such as colorectal, gastric, and brain cancer. This integration of advanced VOC detection systems, multi-omics analysis, and AI-powered disease modeling illustrates a cutting-edge, translational approach with real-world clinical relevance.

His development of standardized breath sampling protocols and AI-driven “breath fingerprinting” exemplifies scientific rigor combined with technological innovation. Such research not only contributes significantly to environmental health science but also sets a strong foundation for public health advancements, particularly in the domain of early, non-invasive disease detection. This has considerable implications for reducing global cancer mortality through early intervention.

Education

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li’s academic journey is deeply rooted in environmental science, analytical chemistry, and health-related diagnostics. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in environmental science and engineering from top Chinese institutions, establishing a solid foundation in the physical and chemical behavior of pollutants. Throughout his postgraduate years, he focused on environmental analytical chemistry and the atmospheric behavior of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Waterloo in Canada under Prof. Janusz Pawliszyn, a globally recognized expert in microextraction techniques, where Dr. Li enhanced his knowledge in VOC analysis and breath sampling technologies. His education has been instrumental in building an interdisciplinary research career that merges chemistry, biology, data science, and environmental health. This background equips him to lead advanced, multi-faceted research on breathomics, air quality, and pollutant exposure, all of which aim to support public health through environmental innovation.

Professional Experience 

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li has held a progressive academic career at Fudan University, starting as an Assistant Professor in 2006 and rising to Full Professor in 2016. He also served as a visiting scholar at TROPOS, Germany, where he collaborated with Prof. Hartmut Herrmann on atmospheric chemistry. Previously, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Waterloo, focusing on microextraction methods for environmental and clinical VOC detection. Over nearly two decades, Prof. Li has led interdisciplinary research at the nexus of environmental monitoring and public health. He has secured over 20 competitive research grants amounting to approximately 15 million CNY, including multiple National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects. His professional experience extends to mentoring students, international collaborations, and advancing analytical platforms that are now pivotal in non-invasive diagnostics. His leadership continues to shape the future of environmental science, especially in the context of human health risk assessments.

Awards and Recognition 

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li has received national and international recognition for his groundbreaking research in environmental science and medical diagnostics. He has been consistently supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, securing prestigious grants including international collaborations such as the Sino-German Key Project. His innovative work with Agilent Technologies earned him multiple awards under their Applications and Core Technology University Research (ACT-UR) program. These recognitions reflect his development of pioneering technologies like thin film sampling, SPME methods, and real-time VOC analysis systems. His contributions to breathomics and non-invasive diagnostics have positioned him as a thought leader in environmental health. In academic circles, he is often invited to speak at global conferences, and his research outputs are widely cited. Additionally, his efforts to standardize breath sampling and integrate AI in disease prediction are setting new benchmarks in clinical and environmental applications alike, marking him as a transformative figure in the field.

Research Skills On Environmental Science

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li’s research skills span analytical chemistry, environmental toxicology, machine learning, and clinical diagnostics. He specializes in trace-level VOC detection using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and high-fidelity breath sampling. His expertise includes method development for semi-volatile and volatile pollutants in atmospheric and biological matrices, particularly human breath. Dr. Li is adept in multi-omics data integration and AI-based disease modeling, creating personalized diagnostic profiles. He is also highly skilled in environmental monitoring, focusing on emerging pollutants, atmospheric oxidation potential, and carbon cycling. His work demonstrates a seamless fusion of laboratory instrumentation, data science, and field research. His ability to coordinate international collaborations and interdisciplinary projects reflects excellent project management and communication skills. With a career dedicated to improving environmental health through innovation, Prof. Li continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in both clinical diagnostics and environmental research.

 Publication Top Notes

1. Advancing Breathomics through Accurate Discrimination of Endogenous from Exogenous Volatiles in Breath

Journal: Environmental Science & Technology
Year: 2024 (Oct 22)
Authors: Zhengnan Cen, Yuerun Huang, Shangzhewen Li, Shanshan Dong, Wenshan Wang, Xiang Li

2. Nitrate pollution deterioration in winter driven by surface ozone increase

Journal: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Year: 2024 (July 04)
Authors: Zekun Zhang, Bingqing Lu, Chao Liu, Xue Meng, Jiakui Jiang, Hartmut Herrmann, Jianmin Chen, Xiang Li

3. Exhaled volatolomics profiling facilitates personalized screening for gastric cancer

Journal: Cancer Letters
Year: 2024 (May)
Authors: Jian Chen, Yongyan Ji, Yongqian Liu, Zhengnan Cen, Yuanwen Chen, Yixuan Zhang, Xiaowen Li, Xiang Li

4. High‐Resolution Mapping of Regional NMVOCs Using the Fast Space‐Time Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)

Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Year: 2023 (Nov 27)
Authors: Bingqing Lu, Chao Liu, Xue Meng, Zekun Zhang, Hartmut Herrmann, Xiang Li

5. Abrupt exacerbation in air quality over Europe after the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war

Journal: Environment International
Year: 2023 (Aug)
Authors: Xue Meng, Bingqing Lu, Chao Liu, Zekun Zhang, Jianmin Chen, Hartmut Herrmann, Xiang Li

6. Virus-induced breath biomarkers: A new perspective to study the metabolic responses of COVID-19 vaccinees

Journal: Talanta
Year: 2023 (Aug)
Authors: Zhengnan Cen, Bingqing Lu, Yongyan Ji, Jian Chen, Yongqian Liu, Jiakui Jiang, Xue Li, Xiang Li

7. Attributing Increases in Ozone to Accelerated Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds at Reduced Nitrogen Oxides Concentrations

Journal: PNAS Nexus
Year: 2022 (Nov 01)
Authors: Zekun Zhang, Jiakui Jiang, Bingqing Lu, Xue Meng, Hartmut Herrmann, Jianmin Chen, Xiang Li, Jiahua Zhang

8. Formation of Secondary Nitroaromatic Compounds in Polluted Urban Environments

Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Year: 2022 (May 27)
Authors: Dongmei Cai, Xinke Wang, Christian George, Tiantao Cheng, Hartmut Herrmann, Xiang Li, Jianmin Chen

9. Connecting the Oxidative Potential of Fractionated Particulate Matter With Chromophoric Substances

Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Year: 2022 (Feb 27)
Authors: Na Wu, Bingqing Lu, Qingcai Chen, Jianmin Chen, Xiang Li

10. Associations of acute exposure to airborne pollutants with COVID-19 infection: evidence from China

Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Year: 2021 (Sept)
Authors: Bingqing Lu, Na Wu, Jiakui Jiang, Xiang Li