Huawen Li, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Conducts research seeking targets for new pharmaceutical approaches based on protein stress.

About Huawen Li, Ph.D.

The stress response is an evolutionarily, highly conserved adaptive mechanism that enhances cell survival. Genome instability is a hallmark of cancer cells. We are highly interested in the relationship between these two factors. We use mouse models to mimic lung cancer, which have obvious genome instability. We also use molecular methods to find the basis for how these pathways talk to each other. This work might give us some clue or target for new pharmaceutical approaches based on protein stress.

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Blog PostJune 05, 2019
Multigene panels for hereditary breast cancer risk
Genetic testing is becoming increasingly accessible for patients as the list of clinical indications and number of genes are growing, and the cost of testing is decreasing.
Featured ArticleMay 01, 2019
Communicating with patients about somatic tumor testing
Communicating about the goals of genomic tumor testing and the associated benefits and limitations with patients like Carole will guide decisions regarding whether the test is right for them.
Blog PostMarch 26, 2019
Can polyps detected by early screening help to identify individuals at risk of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes?
Because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to circle back around to the screening guideline released by the American Cancer Society (ACS) last May. What have been the effects in practice? Are young people who didn’t know they were at risk of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome coming to attention because they’ve been screened and found to have concerning polyps?
Search MagazineMarch 06, 2019
From tragedy, hope and closure
Doctors who treat rare pediatric cancers face an awful truth: many of their patients will die far too young.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer

Featured ArticleJune 04, 2019
MCGI Advances clinical genomics education in Maine
Oncology practices in Maine will continue to have access to advanced educational curricula on genomic tumor testing in patient care through the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI), thanks to a gift from the Maine Cancer Foundation.
- Meet our donors
- Cancer
Featured ArticleApril 30, 2019
Mapping a Cancer Free Life
Jens Rueter, Medical Director of the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative, and Madeleine Braun, Chief of Presidential Initiatives at JAX, discuss the future of cancer care during the first 2019 JAXtaposition event at the Portland Museum of Art.
Search MagazineMarch 19, 2019
Making a difference for rural cancer patients
Dr. Jens Rueter and the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative are providing advanced genomic tools to oncology practices throughout Maine.
Search MagazineMarch 06, 2019
Finding a better way to fight childhood cancers
Ching Lau is working to find effective therapies and test them against patients’ own tumors in specially made patient derived xenotype (PDX) mice.