Zhen Li

Prof. Zhen Li is Principal Scientist and Deputy Focus Area Leader of Disc and Cartilage Biology at the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), Switzerland. With more than 20 years of experience in cartilage and intervertebral disc (IVD) research, Prof. Zhen Li is a recognized researcher in the cartilage and IVD mechanobiology and preclinical research. Prof. Li’s primary research areas include in vitro and ex vivo models with bioreactor guided mechanical stimulation for cartilage and IVD research, and regenerative medicine for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and IVD degeneration diseases. In particular, Prof. Li has been actively working on tissue crosstalk in OA disease mechanisms and preclinical testing of disease modifying OA therapeutics.

Her scientific output includes over 90 research papers and book chapters. She has mentored and supervised 14 PhD students, 30 postdocs and guest scientists, further establishing her leadership in the field of osteoarthritis and IVD research. Prof. Li has collected more than 3 Million Euros of competitive funding in the last 20 years from
national and international agencies, including EU Horizon, Eurostars, and foundation-supported projects.

She is the Executive Editor-in-Chief for Advanced Orthopaedics, an International Editorial Board Member of Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, Co-Chair of European
Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) Equal Representation Committee, Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Finance Committee Member.
She has received the EORS-Aesculap Award for Translational Research in 2025, ORS Spine Section & JOR Spine Early Career Award in 2020, and the AO Spine
Europe Young Researcher Award in 2016. She is the conference chair of the ARI Orthopaedics Cartilage&Disc Conference.