Dr.Ling-JunLi Singapore

My research centers on women’s health, with a particular focus on pregnancy and its intergenerational impacts. I adopt a multidisciplinary and technology-driven approach, integrating MedTech solutions, continuous glucose monitoring, and Omics to better understand and address the complexities of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Guided by a life-course model, my work spans preconception, antenatal, postnatal, and intergenerational phases, underscoring my commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation in maternal health research. Asian women exhibit the highest prevalence of GDM, largely due to unique fat distribution and limited pancreatic beta-cell adaptation. Consequently, Asian mothers and their offspring face a heightened and accelerated risk of adverse cardio-metabolic outcomes. My current research investigates novel and precise methods for predicting GDM and its phenotypes among women with abnormal glucose metabolism, with early findings demonstrating promising associations with neonatal outcomes. While caring for women with singleton pregnancies, I also observed an even higher prevalence of GDM in twin pregnancies. Applying existing singleton-based guidelines to twins risks overdiagnosis, inefficient resource use, and treatment-related complications. By mapping the pathophysiology of GDM in both singleton and twin pregnancies among Asian populations, my goal is to develop more refined, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic and management models to reduce intergenerational health risks. A hallmark of my research career has been securing competitive funding, including the Clinician-Scientist Award–Investigator (2021), NMRC Research Training Fellowship (2016), CS-Transition Award (2014), and CS-New Investigator Grant (2013). These achievements highlight my capacity as an independent principal investigator and the scientific merit of my proposals. To date, I have published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as BMJ, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Food, Ophthalmology, Diabetes Care, eClinicalMedicine, eBioMedicine, BMC Medicine, JAMA Network Open, and Hypertension. My record includes 13 systematic reviews and more than 40 original publications as first, corresponding or senior author. Collectively, my work reflects a consistent pursuit of excellence and impact in women’s health research. The core of my scientific contributions lies in applying multidisciplinary perspectives, epidemiological tools, and medical technology to pregnancy complications, particularly GDM, and their intergenerational consequences. By embracing precision and personalized approaches, my research aims to improve women’s health outcomes across the lifespan and reduce the burden of adverse health trajectories in future generations.