Director of Research & Development
Dr Cindy Li MD PhD
Clinician and translational scientist driving cellular therapy innovation at Biosceptre — pioneering the BRiDGECAR™ universal CAR-T system to transform cancer treatment.
About
Dr Cindy Li is the Director of Research and Development at Biosceptre International, where she leads the modular CAR T pipeline targeting liquid and solid tumours. She studied medicine at Zhejiang University and worked as a trainee physician in a comprehensive oncology centre, before completing a PhD in Immunology and Haematology at the University of Sydney.
Her research has focused on the development of cellular therapies, with extensive experience in clinical grade CAR-T production and GMP compliant T cell therapy and cord blood unit production.
Dr Li also acts as a scientific consultant to an Australian human research ethics committee and medical monitors multiple early phase clinical trials across Australia and China.
She is also an adjunct fellow at St George Clinical School of UNSW.
Research & Expertise
CAR-T Cell Therapy
Clinical grade CAR-T production targeting nfP2X7 — a cancer-specific biomarker expressed across most solid and liquid tumours.
BRiDGECAR™ Platform
Pioneering Biosceptre's universal CAR-T system combining nfP2X7-targeted CAR-T with multiple targeted antibodies.
GMP Manufacturing
GMP compliant cell therapy and cord blood unit production meeting regulatory standards for clinical trials.
Translational Research
Bridging laboratory discoveries to clinical applications — from pre-clinical validation to Phase I trials.
Ethics & Governance
Scientific consultant to an Australian human research ethics committee, ensuring research integrity.
R&D Leadership
Directing research strategy across multiple oncology programs targeting liquid and solid tumours.
Career
Director of Research and Development
Biosceptre International Limited
Leading R&D strategy for modular CAR T pipeline, overseeing programs targeting liquid and solid tumours.
Adjunct Fellow
UNSW School of Clinical Medicine
Academic affiliation at St George Clinical School, contributing to research and teaching in translational medicine.
Scientific Committee Member
Bellberry
Scientific consultant to a human research ethics committee, reviewing clinical trial protocols and research governance.
Production Manager
Sydney Cord Blood Bank
Oversaw cord blood unit production for clinical transplant in a GMP compliant and FACT accredited facility at Sydney Children's Hospital Network.
Research Officer
Children's Medical Research Institute
Major role in preclinical development of a modular CAR T platform — plasmid design, cloning, CAR T function analysis, and antibody-derived adapter molecule evaluation. Contributed to two patents and one publication.
Publications
Selected peer-reviewed publications and research contributions
The Current Landscape of Modular CAR T Cells
Biosceptre (Aust) Pty Ltd., Westmead, NSW, Australia
Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(24):11898
Development of CAR T Cell Therapy in Children — A Comprehensive Overview
Ziduo Li et al.
J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2158
Investigation of product-derived lymphoma following infusion of piggyBac-modified CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells
Ziduo Li et al.
Blood. 2021;138(16):1391-1405
Prophylactic antigen-specific T-cells targeting seven viral and fungal pathogens after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant
Ziduo Li et al.
Clin Transl Immunology. 2021;10(3):e1249
Rapidly expanded partially HLA DRB1-matched fungus-specific T cells mediate in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity
Ziduo Li et al.
Blood Adv. 2020;4(14):3443-3456
Patents
Intellectual property in cell therapy and immunotherapy
Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Binding to Dysfunctional P2X7 Receptor
ActiveChimeric antigen receptors for binding to dysfunctional P2X7 receptor, genetically modified cells comprising the same, and uses thereof.
Patrick Schlegel, Daniel U. Christ, Peter R. Schofield, Ziduo Li
Molecules and Methods for Activating CAR T Cells
ActiveHeterodimer molecules comprising Fab arms of antibodies with antigen binding domains for activating CAR T cells.
Ziduo Li, Patrick Schlegel, Coralie Werbrouck
Methods for Controlling Immune Cell Activity
ActiveMethods for inhibiting the activity of cellular immunotherapy in individuals receiving therapy for binding to a target antigen.
Julian A. Barden, Patrick Schlegel, Ziduo Li
Novel Cell Therapy System
ActiveImmune cell therapeutics comprising a receptor with an antigen-recognition domain and signalling domain for tumour-specific targeting.
Julian A. Barden, Alexander Joechner, Ziduo Li, Patrick Schlegel, Sile F. Yang
Treatment Method (Anti-CD83 for Lymphoma)
ActiveMethod of treating Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma by administering a CD83 binding protein.
Derek N.J. Hart, Georgina J. Clark, Edward A. Abadir, Xinsheng Ju, Ziduo Li
Get in Touch
Interested in collaboration, consulting, or connecting on research? I'd love to hear from you.