Dr Wenhao Li

Wenhao Li

Clinical Lecturer in Hepatology

Blizard Institute
Queen Mary University of London

Research

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, type 2 diabetes, gut-adipose-liver axis, liver immunology

Interests

Have expertise in in vitro models of liver cell injury (2D, spheroids). Would like to use organ on a chip to interrogate gut-adipose-liver axis in the pathogenesis of steatotic liver disease using human cells.

Publications

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models

2025

Combination therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: challenges and opportunities
Zhou X-D, Fan Q-Y, Byrne CD, Targher G, Muthiah MD, Huang DQ, Chen Q-F, Noureddin M et al.
Gut, Bmj 
31-12-2025
Real-world evidence in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): insights, challenges, and future directions
Huang H-T, Hewitt M, Li W, Alazawi W
The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, Elsevier vol. 62 
13-12-2025
Nutrition in MASLD: a patient focused, evidence-based clinician’s guide
Pekarska K, Brennan PN, Wajcman DI, Towey J, Cox L, Weatherby K, McPherson S, Stine J et al.
Frontline Gastroenterology, Bmj 
30-11-2025
Current and emerging therapeutic landscape for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Li W, Alazawi W, Loomba R
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 11 (2), 150-162.  
27-11-2025
Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Reconstructed Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis
Lim RY, Tan FXN, Ho GJK, Tham EKJ, Kow A, Lv G, Fan Z-Q, Syn N et al.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier 
01-09-2025
Longitudinal Changes in Fibrosis Markers: Monitoring Stiffness/Fibrosis Progression and Prognostic Outcomes in MASLD
Zhou X-D, Li Y-T, Kim SU, Yip TC-F, Petta S, Nakajima A, Tsochatzis E, Shi J et al.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 24 (2), 394-406.  
24-07-2025
Current Surveillance Strategy Is Less Effective for Detecting Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Non-Viral and Non-Cirrhotic Liver Disease
Spiers J, Li W, Aravinthan AD, Bannaga A, Caddick K, Culver EL, Faulkes RE, Gordon V et al.
Liver Cancer, Karger Publishers vol. 14 (5), 587-600.  
26-03-2025

2024

Endogenous C-type natriuretic peptide offsets the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and portal hypertension
Perez-Ternero C, Li W, Aubdool AA, Goldin RD, Loy J, Devalia K, Alazawi W, Hobbs AJ
Pnas Nexus, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 4 (1) 
23-12-2024
P32 Toll-like receptor (TLR)5 mediates deleterious effects of lipid injury and fibrogenic responses in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and clinical outcomes
Li W, Boot J, Mein C, Loy J, Devalia K, Kendall T, Ramos MJ, Fallowfield J et al.
P32 Toll-like receptor (TLR)5 mediates deleterious effects of lipid injury and fibrogenic responses in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and clinical outcomes. 
01-10-2024
Letter to the Editor: Future-proofing transplant hepatology training: Shared learnings from “across the pond”
Li W, Brennan PN, Tavabie OD
Liver Transplantation, Wolters Kluwer vol. 31 (1), e1-e2.  
15-08-2024
Influence of individuals’ determinants including vaccine type on cellular and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Chambers ES, Cai W, Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Perdek N, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM et al.
Npj Vaccines, Springer Nature vol. 9 (1) 
22-05-2024
Progress is impossible without change: understanding the evolving nomenclature of steatotic liver disease and its effect on hepatology practice
Brennan PN, Tavabie OD, Li W, Marjot T, Corless L, Fallowfield JA, Jarvis H, Mansour D et al.
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 9 (6), 577-582.  
28-02-2024

2023

National study of NAFLD management identifies variation in delivery of care in the UK between 2019 to 2022
Li W, Sheridan D, McPherson S, Alazawi W, Abeysekera K, Marjot T, Brennan P, Mahgoub S et al.
Jhep Reports, Elsevier vol. 5 (12) 
28-08-2023
WED-406 Toll-like receptor 5 signalling mediates pro-inflammatory and fibrogenic responses in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Li W, Garrido P, Mir IG, Waller K, Jong AV-D, Brindley JH, Khan W, Hood G et al.
Journal of Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 78 
01-06-2023
THU-447 The national audit of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) identifies variations and shortfalls in delivery of care in the UK
Li W, Sheridan D, Mcpherson S, Alazawi W
Journal of Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 78 
01-06-2023
Regional variation in characteristics of patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted to hospitals in the UK
UK TTCFRAAIH, Tavabie OD, Abeysekera KW, Brennan PN, Marjot T, Kronsten VT, Li W, Nayagam JS et al.
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 8 (7), 604-606.  
03-05-2023
UK national trainee survey of hepatology training, research and the future workforce
Li W, Abbas N, Brennan PN, Mcdowell H, Navaratnam J, Phoolchund A, Scott R, Shearer J et al.
Frontline Gastroenterology vol. 14 (4), 326-333.  
06-01-2023
An overview of the challenges and key initiatives in hepatology practice in the UK in 2022: a cautionary tale, but reasons for optimism - British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) Annual Meeting 2022 Conference Report.
Wells G, Spiers J, Williams FR, Li W, Tavabie OD, Brennan PN
Clinical Medicine vol. 23 (1), 73-75.  
01-01-2023

2022

Single-cell phenotypes of peripheral blood immune cells in early and late stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Waller KJ, Saihi H, Li W, Brindley JH, De Jong A, Syn W-K, Bessant C, Alazawi W
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, The Korean Association For The Study of The Liver vol. 29 (2), 417-432.  
21-11-2022
Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Influence SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Efficacy or Immunogenicity: Sub-Studies Nested within the CORONAVIT Randomised Controlled Trial
Jolliffe DA, Vivaldi G, Chambers ES, Cai W, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C et al.
Nutrients, Mdpi vol. 14 (18) 
16-09-2022
Correlation Between Postvaccination Anti-Spike Antibody Titers and Protection Against Breakthrough Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study
Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Faustini S, Shields AM, Holt H, Perdek N, Talaei M, Tydeman F et al.
Journal of Infectious Diseases, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 226 (11), 1903-1908.  
30-07-2022
What’s new in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Spiers J, Brindley JH, Li W, Alazawi W
Frontline Gastroenterology, Bmj vol. 13 (e1), e102-e108.  
31-05-2022
Quality standards for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): consensus recommendations from the British Association for the Study of the Liver and British Society of Gastroenterology NAFLD Special Interest Group
McPherson S, Armstrong MJ, Cobbold JF, Corless L, Anstee QM, Aspinall RJ, Barclay ST, Brennan PN et al.
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 7 (8), 755-769.  
28-04-2022
The contribution of daytime sleepiness to impaired quality of life in NAFLD in an ethnically diverse population
Li W, Kadler BK, Brindley JH, Hood G, Devalia K, Loy J, Syn W-K, Alazawi W
Scientific Reports, Springer Nature vol. 12 (1) 
24-03-2022
Physician trainee research collaboratives: a mixed methods exploration of UK experience
Kavanagh E, Fernandes L, Li W, Roycroft M, FitzPatrick M
Clinical Medicine, Elsevier vol. 22 (2), 119-124.  
01-03-2022
The β-NGF/TrkA Signalling Pathway Is Associated With the Production of Anti-Nucleoprotein IgG in Convalescent COVID-19
Usai C, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Li W, Jacobs SRM, McKnight Á, Kennedy PTF, Gill US
Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers vol. 12 
14-01-2022
The growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), determined by fatty liver index, amongst young adults in the United States. A 20-year experience
Li W, Ng CH, Quek J, Chan KE, Tan C, Zeng RW, Yong JN, Tay H et al.
Metabolism and Target Organ Damage, Oae Publishing vol. 2 (4), null-null.  
01-01-2022

2021

Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea is a major component in NAFLD quality of life impairment
Li W, Kadler BK, Brindley JH, Berryman V, Preston J, Pattrick M, Sutcliffe C, Hood G et al.
 
01-01-2021

2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Li W, Alazawi W
Clinical Medicine, Elsevier vol. 20 (5), 509-512.  
01-09-2020
Socioeconomic Factors Associated With Liver-Related Mortality From 1985 to 2015 in 36 Developed Countries
Li W, Kemos P, Salciccioli JD, Marshall DC, Shalhoub J, Alazawi W
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 19 (8), 1698-1707.e13.  
22-08-2020

2019

Obesity Predicts Liver Function Testing and Abnormal Liver Results
Li W, Homer K, Hull S, Boomla K, Robson J, Alazawi W
Obesity, Wiley vol. 28 (1), 132-138.  
05-12-2019
FRI-356-Single cell peripheral innate and adaptive immune signature of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by cytometry time of flight
Waller K, Jong AV-D, Li W, Lowe R, Kemos P, Syn W-K, Alazawi W
 
01-04-2019
FRI-279-Stat2 is a pathogenic factor in human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and mouse models of liver injury and mediates fatty acid-induced Inflammasome activation in hepatocytes
Li W, Britton G, Kudo H, Goldin RD, Alazawi W
 
01-04-2019

2018

PS-062 Prevalence and explanatory factors for liver function testing and abnormality in a population-based study of children and young people
Li W, Homer K, Boomla K, Robson J, Hull S, Alazawi W
 
01-04-2018
Small-Bowel Obstruction Due to Strongyloides stercoralis Infection
Li W, Chattree A
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 17 (6), a41-a42.  
17-03-2018
Factors Influencing Global Trends in Liver-Related Mortality - an Observational Study from 1985 to 2015
Li W, Salciccioli JD, Marshall D, Shalhoub J, Alazawi W
 
01-01-2018

2017

Non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis in fatty liver disease are unreliable in people of South Asian descent
De Silva S, Li W, Kemos P, Brindley JH, Mecci J, Samsuddin S, Chin-Aleong J, Feakins RM et al.
Frontline Gastroenterology, Bmj vol. 9 (2) 
16-11-2017
PWE-075 Non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis in fatty liver disease are unreliable in people of south asian descent
De Silva S, Li W, Kemos P, Brindley J, Mecci J, Samsuddin S, Chin-Aleong J, Feakins R et al.
Liver. 
17-06-2017
Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Caused by Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangectasia
Li W, Kotha S, Joshi D
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elsevier vol. 15 (7), a25-a26.  
22-03-2017
SAT-320 Blood-test based assessment of liver fibrosis, but not transient elastography, is less accurate in NAFLD patients of South Asian compared to White ethnicity
De Silva S, Li W, Kemos P, Brindley JH, Feakins R, Chinaleong J, Samsuddin S, Foster GR et al.
 
01-01-2017

Correlation between post-vaccination titres of combined IgG, IgA, and IgM anti-Spike antibodies and protection against breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection: a population-based longitudinal study (COVIDENCE UK)
Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Faustini S, Holt H, Perdek N, Talaei M, Tydeman F, Chambers ES et al.
In Medrxiv 
The β-NGF/TrkA signalling pathway is associated with the production of anti- nucleoprotein IgG in convalescent COVID-19
Usai C, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Li W, Jacobs SRM, McKnight Á, Kennedy PTF, Gill US
In Medrxiv 
Influence of vitamin D supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity
Jolliffe DA, Vivaldi G, Chambers ES, Cai W, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C et al.
In Medrxiv 
Influence of age, sex, body habitus, vaccine type and anti-S serostatus on cellular and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Chambers ES, Cai W, Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Perdek N, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM et al.
In Medrxiv 

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
bullet iconTLR5 axis as a therapeutic target in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Wenhao Li
£235,694 MCSBHT Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital Trust
01-08-2020 - 30-11-2023