The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE) is a non-profit scientific and research and development organization with members of leading institutes in pharmaceutical technology. This NIPTE award is given annually to an early career investigator  for outstanding scientific achievements in pharmaceutical science and technology.

Arriving at UConn in the Fall of 2019, Na Li experienced the adversity of the COVID pandemic. Despite these challenges, she quickly established a productive research team, making remarkable research progress while securing $2.5 million in research support since starting at UConn. She has received several prestigious awards. The latest award, the NIPTE Rising Star Scholarship, is awarded by NIPTE on an annual basis and is given to an early career investigator for their outstanding scientific achievements in pharmaceutical science and technology. She has also received the 2022 PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) Research Starter Grant and the 2021 International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC) Foundation Patrick DeLuca Emerging Researcher Award. Li’s research interests include permeability and bioavailability of oral drug delivery systems and interactions with the gut microbiome. 

Serving UConn as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences as well as an Assistant Professor (adjunct) in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Li continues to inspire UConn students with her passion and dedication to research. Her research interests focus on integrating biopharmaceutics, formulation sciences, and engineering principles to guide drug substance and product development. 

“I feel fortunate to work in a field where fundamental research not only advances scientific understanding but also has a direct impact on the pharmaceutical industry and improving health outcomes.”

Li will use this prestigious award and its research funds to further her passion for investigations within the world of pharmaceutical science and technology, helping the pharmaceutical community at UConn and beyond.