Dr. Yan Li, MD PhD

Yan Michael Li, MD, PhD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon serving patients at the Minimally Invasive Brain and Spine Institute. The practice has offices in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, and Upstate, New York. 

Dr. Li received his medical degree from Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China. He then obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

He completed a neurosurgical residency and enfolded complex spine fellowship at the State University of New York in Albany, New York. Dr. Li completed fellowships at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He also completed a neurosurgical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, focusing on complex brain and spine tumor surgery.

Dr. Li is an award-winning fellowship-trained spine and tumor neurosurgeon specializing in treating complex spine diseases and brain and spine tumors. He has a strong clinical interest in simple and complex spine surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and computer-assisted spinal navigation and robotic surgery. 

Dr. Li provides the latest and most efficient treatment options for each patient with back pain, including minimally invasive herniated disk surgery through less than the one-inch incision, minimally invasive lateral or posterior spinal fusion surgery, and artificial disc implants that allow for more mobility.

He has a reputation as an expert in complex spinal surgery, with more than 50 percent of his referrals originating from other surgeons who relied on him for revision surgeries or complex spine cases outside their expertise. 

Dr. Li’s practice emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to disease processes to achieve the best patient outcomes. He works closely with other specialists, such as pain specialists, neurologists, and physical therapists.

Dr. Li has extended expertise in the research field, with about 70 papers published.

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals:

1. Li YM, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Bucklen B. Laterally placed expandable interbody spacers with and without adjustable lordosis improve patient outcomes: A preliminary one-year chart review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2022 Jan 13;213:107123. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107123. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35063724.
2. Li YM, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Bucklen BS. Laterally Placed Expandable Interbody Spacers With and Without Adjustable Lordosis Improve Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study. Cureus. 2021 Dec;13(12):e20302. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20302. eCollection 2021 Dec. PubMed PMID: 35028207; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8748004.
3. Li YM, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Riggleman JR, Ledonio C. Expandable Technology Improves Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease. Int J Spine Surg. 2021 Feb;15(1):87-93. doi: 10.14444/8012. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PubMed PMID: 33900961; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7931745.
4. Li YM, Frisch RF, Huang Z, Towner JE, Li YI, Edsall AL, Ledonio C. Comparative Effectiveness of Laterally Placed Expandable versus Static Interbody Spacers: A 1-Year Follow-Up Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes Study. Asian Spine J. 2021 Feb;15(1):89-96. doi: 10.31616/asj.2019.0260. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PubMed PMID: 32521948; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7904492.
5. Towner JE, Li YI, Singla A, Moquin RR,Li YM. Retrospective Review of Revision Surgery After Image-guided Instrumented Spinal Surgery Compared With Traditional Instrumented Spinal Surgery. Clin Spine Surg. 2020 Feb 11.
6. Towner JE, Li YI, Pieters TA, Li YM. Descriptive Analysis of 1972 Cervical Corpectomy Patients and 30-Day Postoperative Outcomes. Int J Spine Surg. 2020 Jun;14(3):412-417. doi: 10.14444/7054. eCollection 2020 Jun. PubMed PMID: 32699765; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7343259. 
7. Zhang JW, Li YI, Towner JE, Pieters TA, Li KZ, Al-Dhahir,MA, Childers F, Li YM. Sepsis and septic shock after craniotomy: Predicting a significant patient safety and quality outcome measure. PLOS One. Sept 17, 2020
8. Li YI, Ventura N, Towner JE, LiKZ, Roberts D, Li YM. Risk factors and associated complications with unplanned intubation in patients with craniotomy for brain tumor. J Clin Neurosci.  2020 Feb 5.
9. Li YM, Frisch R, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Greeley S, Ledonio C. Comparative Effectiveness of Expandable versus Static Interbody Spacers via MIS LLIF: A 2-Year Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes Study. Global Spine Journal 2020. 
10. Piper K, Zou LL, Li DM, Underberg D, Towner J Chowdhry AK., Li YM. Surgical management and adjuvant therapy for patients with neurological deficits from vertebral hemangiomas. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 Jan 15;45(2):E99-E110. 
11. Liu X, Tian W, Kolar M, Johnson MD, Milano MT, Jiang HH, Lin S, Li D, Mohile NA, Li YM, Walter AK, Ekholm S, Wang HZ.  The correlation of fractional anisotropy parameters with Ki-67 index, and the clinical implication in grading of non-enhancing gliomas and neuronal-glial tumors.  Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Jan;65:129-135.
12. Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Greeley S, Ledonio C, Li YM. Laterally Placed Expandable Interbody Spacers Improve Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes: A 1-Year Follow-up Study, Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery: Advanced Techniques and Case Management 2019
13. Towner JE, Li YI, Pieters TA, Schmidt T, Walter KA, Audre, Li YM. Descriptive Analysis of Cervical Corpectomy Outcomes from 2012 to 2015 ACS NSQIP Dataset. Global Spine Journal 2019.
14. Mahon BZ, Mead JA, Chernoff BL,SimsMH,  Garcea FE,  Prentiss5 E,  Belkhir R, Haber SJ, Gannon SB,  Erickson S, Wright KA, Schmidt5 MZ, Paulzak A, Milano VC, Paul DA,Foxx K,  Tivarus M,  Nadler JW,  Behr JM,  Smith SO, Li YM, Walter K,  Pilcher WH. Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping. J. Vis. Exp. (150), e59592, Aug 2019.
15. Li YM, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Riggleman JR, et al. (2019) Laterally Placed Expandable Interbody Spacers with Adjustable Lordosis Improve Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes. J Spine S8:001. DOI: 10.4172/2165-7939.S8-001
16. Garcea FE, Almeida J, Sims MH, Nunno A, Meyers SP, Li YM, Walter K, Pilcher WH, Mahon BZ. Domain-Specific Diaschisis: Lesions to Parietal Action Areas Modulate Neural Responses to Tools in the Ventral Stream. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Jul 5;29(7):3168-3181.
17. Huang JF, Chen D, Sang CM, Zheng XQ, Lin JL, Lin Y, Ni WF, Wang XY, Li YM, Wu AM. Nomogram for Individualized Prediction and Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients with Primary Spinal Chordoma: A Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study. World Neurosurg. 2019 May 1.
18. Piper K, Zou LL, Li DM, Underberg D, Towner J Chowdhry AK., Li YM. Surgical management and adjuvant therapy for patients with neurological deficits from vertebral hemangiomas. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 Jan 15;45(2):E99-E110. 
19. Liu X, Tian W, Kolar M, Johnson MD, Milano MT, Jiang HH, Lin S, Li D, Mohile NA, Li YM, Walter AK, Ekholm S, Wang HZ.  The correlation of fractional anisotropy parameters with Ki-67 index, and the clinical implication in grading of non-enhancing gliomas and neuronal-glial tumors.  Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Jan;65:129-135.
20. Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Greeley S, Ledonio C, Li YM. Laterally Placed Expandable Interbody Spacers Improve Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes: A 1-Year Follow-up Study, Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery: Advanced Techniques and Case Management 2019
21. Towner JE, Li YI, Pieters TA, Schmidt T, Walter KA, Audre, Li YM. Descriptive Analysis of Cervical Corpectomy Outcomes from 2012 to 2015 ACS NSQIP Dataset. Global Spine Journal 2019.
22. Mahon BZ, Mead JA, Chernoff BL,SimsMH,  Garcea FE,  Prentiss5 E,  Belkhir R, Haber SJ, Gannon SB,  Erickson S, Wright KA, Schmidt5 MZ, Paulzak A, Milano VC, Paul DA,Foxx K,  Tivarus M,  Nadler JW,  Behr JM,  Smith SO, Li YM, Walter K,  Pilcher WH. Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping. J. Vis. Exp. (150), e59592, Aug 2019.
23. Li YM, Huang Z, Towner J, Li YI, Riggleman JR, et al. (2019) Laterally Placed Expandable Interbody Spacers with Adjustable Lordosis Improve Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes. J Spine S8:001. DOI: 10.4172/2165-7939.S8-001
24. Garcea FE, Almeida J, Sims MH, Nunno A, Meyers SP, Li YM, Walter K, Pilcher WH, Mahon BZ. Domain-Specific Diaschisis: Lesions to Parietal Action Areas Modulate Neural Responses to Tools in the Ventral Stream. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Jul 5;29(7):3168-3181.
25. Huang JF, Chen D, Sang CM, Zheng XQ, Lin JL, Lin Y, Ni WF, Wang XY, Li YM, Wu AM. Nomogram for Individualized Prediction and Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients with Primary Spinal Chordoma: A Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study. World Neurosurg. 2019 May 1.
26. Pieters TA, Li YI, Towner JE, Schmidt T, Vates GE, Pilcher W, Li YM. Comparative Analysis of Decompression Versus Decompression and Fusion for Surgical Management of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis. World Neurosurg. 2019 Feb 19.
27. Wang L, LianB, LiYI, LiuX, Huang J and Li, YM. What is the advance of extent of resection in glioblastoma surgical treatment, a systematic review. Chinese Neurosurgical Journal, 2019:5-2
28. Nunno A, Li Y, Pieters TA, Towner JE, Schmidt T, Shi M, Walter K, Li YM. Risk Factors and Associated Complications of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Craniotomy for Meningioma. World Neurosurg. 2019 Feb;122.
29. Chen D, Shao MM, Wang XY, Li YM, Wu AM. Current strategies of reduce the rate of dysphagia and dysphonia after anterior cervical spine surgery and role of corticosteroids. Ann Transl Med. 2018 Dec;6. 
30. Towner JE, Piper KF, Schoeniger LO, Qureshi SH, Li YM. Use of image-guided bone scalpel for resection of spine tumors: technical note. AME Case Rep. 2018 PMCID: PMC6286896. 
31. Nunno A, Johnson MD, Wu G, Li YM. Metastatic prostate cancer mimicking a subdural hematoma: A case report and literature review. J ClinNeurosci. 2018 Sep;55.
32. Chen D, Chen CH, Zhang LL, Lin ZK, Zheng JW, Phan K, Mobbs RJ, Lin Y, Ni WF, Wang XY, Li YM, Wu AM. Chondrosarcoma of the Osseous Spine Treated by Surgery With or Without Radiotherapy: A Propensity Score Matched and Grade/Stage-stratified Study. Clin Spine Surg. 2018 Jul;31(6):E310-E316. 
33. Wang PF, Wang TJ , Yang YK, Yao K,  Li Z, Li YM, Yan CX. The expression profile of PD-L1 and CD8 + lymphocyte in pituitary adenomas indicating for immunotherapy. J Neurooncol. 2018 Aug;139(1):89-95.  (Co-corresponding author).
34. Wang PF, Cai HQ, Zhang CB, Li YM, Liu X, Wan JH, Jiang T, Li SW, Yan CX. Molecular and clinical characterization of PTPN2 expression from RNA-seq data of 996 brain gliomas. J Neuroinflammation. 2018 May 15;15(1):145. 
35. Wu AM, Zhang K, Li XL, Cheng XF, Zhou TJ, Du L, Chen C, Tian HJ, Sun XJ, Zhao CQ, Li YM, Zhao J. The compression of L5 nerve root, single or double sites?-radiographic graded signs, intra-operative detect technique and clinical outcomes.Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2018 May;8(4):383-390. 
36. Piper K, DeAndrea-Lazarus I, Algattas H, Kimmell KT, Towner J, Li YM, et al. Risk Factors Associated with Readmission and Reoperation in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery, World Neurosurgery2018;110, e627-e635, 
37. Cheng X, Zhang F, Zhang K, Sun X, Zhao C, Li H, Li YM, Zhao J.Effect of Single-Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion on Segmental and Overall Lumbar Lordosis in Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Disease.World Neurosurgery. 2018; 109:e244-e251.
38. Cheng X, Zhang G, Zhang L, Hu Y, Zhang K, Sun X, Zhao C, Li H, Li YM, Zhao J. Mesenchymal stem cells deliver exogenous miR-21 via exosomes to inhibit nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and reduce intervertebral disc degeneration.J Cell Mol Med. 2018 Jan;22(1):261-276. 
39. Piper K, Algattas H, DeAndrea-Lazarus IA, Kimmell KT, Li YM, et al. Risk factors associated with venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing spine surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2017 Jan;26(1):90-96. 
40. Liu X, Tian W, Chen H, LoStracco TA, Zhang J, Li YM et al. Advanced Neuroimaging in the Evaluation of Spinal Cord Tumors and Tumor Mimics: Diffusion Tensor and Perfusion-Weighted Imaging. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2017 Apr;38(2):163-175.
41. Brown TJ, Brennan MC, Li YM, et al. Association of the Extent of Resection With Survival in Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2016 Nov 1;2(11):1460-1469.
42. Li YM, Suki D, Hess K, Sawaya R.  The influence of maximum safe resection of glioblastoma on survival in 1229 patients: Can we do better than gross-total resection? J Neurosurgery. Apr;124(4):977-88. 2016.
43. Hu M, Guan H, Lau CC, Terashima K, Jin Z, Cui L, Wang Y, Li G, Yao Y, Guo Y, Li YM, et al.  An update on the clinical diagnostic value of β-hCG and αFP for intracranial germ cell tumors. Eur J Med Res.Mar 12;21:10, 2016
44. Towner JE, Johnson MD, Li YM. Intraventricular Hemangiopericytoma: A Case Report and Literature Review. World Neurosurg. 2016 May89:728.e5-728.
45. Huang J, Li YM, Cheng Q, Vallera DA, Hall WA.A novel brain metastasis xenograft model for convection-enhanced delivery of targeted toxins via a micro-osmotic pump system enabled for real-time bioluminescence imaging. Mol Med Rep. Oct;12(4):5163-8, 2015.
46. Li YM, Rhines L, Clinical Outcomes of Sacral Chordoma Surgeries, Global Spine Journal 5 (S 01), A220, 2015.
47. Hanna B, Li YM, Beutler T, Goyal P, Hall WA. Xanthomatoushypophysitis. J Clin Neurosci. Jul;22(7):1091-7. 2015 
48. Li YM,  Rhines L, Clinical Outcomes of 36 Sacral Chordoma Surgeries. Spine J. Nov 14 (11): S183. 2014
49. Li YM, Vallera DA, Hall WA.  Diphtheria toxin-based immunotoxin therapy for brain tumors (with Journal Cover Page). J Neurooncol, Sep;114(2):155-64. 2013.
50. Huang J, Li YM, Massague J, Vallera DA, Hall WA.  A novel brain metastasis xenograft model for convection-enhanced delivery of targeted toxins via a micro-osmotic pump system enabled for real-time bioluminescence imaging. International Journal of Cancer, 109(2):229-38. PMID: 22696210.2013
51. Cantu RC, Li YM, Abdulhamid M, Chin LS. Return to play after cervical spine injury in sports. Curr Sports Med Rep.2013Jan;12(1):14-7. 
52. Li YM, Blaskiewicz D, Hall WA. Staphylococcus Lugdunensis Intracranial Abscess caused by Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Related Infection in a Hydranencephaly patient. World Neurosurgery,2013 Jan; 12: S1878-8750(13)00107-1.
53. Huang J, Li YM, Massague J, Vallera DA, Hall WA.  Convection enhanced delivery of the bispecific targeted toxin DTATEGF in a mouse xenograft model of a human metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. JNeurooncol, 2012 Sep;109(2):229-38.
54. TianW, HanX, XuY, Duggineni S, Luo G, Li YM, Han X, Huang Z, An J. Structure-based discovery of a novel inhibitor targeting the β-catenin/Tcf4 interaction. Biochemistry. 2012 Feb 51(2):724-31. 
55. Li YM, Hall WA.  Cell Surface Receptors in Malignant Glioma. Neurosurgery. 2011Oct;69(4):980-94; discussion 994.
56. Schanker BD, Walcott BP, Nahed BV, Kahle KT, Li YM,Coumans JV.Familial Chiari malformation: case seriesNeurosurg Focus. 2011Sep;31(3):E1.
57. Abdulhamid M, Li YM, Hall WA. Spontaneous Acute Subdural Hematoma as the Initial Manifestation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. JNeurooncol, 2011Feb;101(3):513-6.
58. Li YM, Hall WA.  Targeted Toxins in Brain Tumor Therapy, Toxins 2010 Nov;2(11):2645-62.
59. Li Y, Zou L, Li Q, Haibe-Kains B, Tian R, Li YM, Desmedt C, Sotiriou C, Szallasi Z, Iglehart JD, Richardson AL, Wang ZC.Amplification of LAPTM4B and YWHAZ contributes to chemotherapy resistance and recurrence of cancer. Nature Medicine 2010 Feb;16(2):214-8. 
60. Jiang J, Xia XB, Xu HZ, Xiong Y, Song WT, Xiong SQ, Li YM.Inhibition of retinal neovascularization by gene transfer of small interfering RNA targeting HIF-1alpha and VEGF.J Cell Physiol. 2009 Jan;218(1):66-74.
61. Xia XB, Xiong SQ, Xu HZ, Jiang J, Li YM.Suppression of retinalneovascularization by shRNA targeting HIF-1alpha.Curr Eye Res. 2008Oct;33(10):892-902.
62. Li YM, Zhou BP, Jiong D, Pan Y, Hung MC. PI-3K/Akt induced HIF-1 Activation Independent of Hypoxia in HER2 Overexpressing Cell. Cancer Research 2005 Apr 15; 65(8):3257-63.
63. Ding Q, Xia W, Liu JC, Yang JY, Lee DF, Xia J, Bartholomeusz G, Li YM,et al. Erk associates with and primes GSK-3beta for its inactivation resulting in upregulation of beta-catenin. Molecular Cell. 2005 Jul 22;19(2):159-70.
64. Li Z, Ding Q, Li YM,Miller SA, Abbruzzese JL, Hung MC. Suppression of pancreatic tumor progression by systemic delivery of a pancreatic-cancer-specific promoter driven Bik mutant. Cancer Letter. 2005 Jun 10.
65. Li YM, Pan Y, Wei Y, Cheng X, Zhou BP, Tan M, Xia W, Zhou X, Hortobagyi GN, Yu D, and Hung MC. Up-regulate chemokine receptor CXCR4 is essential for HER2-mediated cancer lung metastasis, Cancer Cell. 2004 Nov; 6(5):459-69. Accompanied by Preview: A new key in cancer metastasis. Cancer Cell. 2004 Nov;6(5):429-30. Reviewed by Lancet 2005 Mar 16;365(9464):1006-7. Nature Review Cancer Highlights 2005 Jan,5(1):1
66. Zhou BP, Deng J, Xia W, Xu J,Li YM, Gunduz M, Hung MC. Dual regulation of Snail by GSK-3beta-mediated phosphorylation in control of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Nature Cell Biology. 2004 Oct; 6(10):931-40.
67. Chen JS, Liu JC, Shen L, Rau KM, Kuo HP, Li YM, Shi D, Lee YC, Chang KJ, Hung MC. Cancer-specific activation of the survivin promoter and its potential use in gene therapy. Cancer Gene Therapy. Nov;11 (11):740-7.
68. Makino K, Day CP, Wang SC, Li YM, and Hung MC. Upregulation of IKKα/IKKβ by Integrin Linked Kinase is Required for neu Oncogene-induced NF-κB Anti-apoptotic Pathway. Oncogene. 2004 May 6; 23(21): 3883-7
69. Li YM, Wen Y, Zhou BP, Kuo HP, Ding Q, Hung MC. Enhanced Anti-tumor effect by bik mutant. Cancer Research. 2003 Nov 15; 63(22): 7630-3.
70. Li YM, Wen Y, Ding QQ, Zhou BP, Hung MC.Mutant proapoptotic Bik enhances cancer killing effect.Molecular Therapy. 2003 May; 7(5), S17.
71. Zhou B, Li YM and Hung MC. HER-2/Neu Signaling and Therapeutic Approaches in Breast Cancer. Breast Disease. 2002, 15, 13-24.
72. Deng J, Miller SA, Wang H, Xia W, Wen Y, Zhou B, Li YM, Lin SY, Hung MC. Fas downregulation by β-catenin inhibition of NF-κB. Cancer Cell. 2002 Oct; 2(4): 323-34.
73. Winbow VM, Li Y, Nguyen B, Mills SL, O’Brien, J. Phosphorylation of connexins 35 and 34.7 by protein kinase A. IVOS 2001, 42(4), 1038-B351.
74. Li W, He Z, Li Y, Yanoff M. Vascular endothelial growth factor regulates both apoptosis and angiogenesis of choriocapillaris endothelial cells. Microvascular Research. 2000 Mar; 59(2): 286-9. 
75. Li Y, Pang GX, Zhan SH, et al. The Apoptosis and Proliferation after Photorefractive Keratectomy.Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 1999 Jan; 35 (1): 29-32
76. Li W, Yanoff M, Li Y, He Z. Artificial senescence of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells induced by near-ultraviolet in vitro. Mechanism of Ageing and Development. 1999 Oct 22; 110(3): 137-55.