Department of Pathology

Zaibo Li, MD, PhD, MBA

Professor-Clinical
Endowed University Pathology Service Professorship
Vice Chair for Clinical Research

Portrait of Zaibo Li, MD, PhD
  • Office Location:
  • E403 Doan Hall
  • 410 W. 10th Ave.
  • Columbus, OH 43210

Biosketch

Zaibo Li, MD, Ph.D, MBA is Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Director of Cytopathology and Surgical Pathology (Precision Pathology Pathway) Fellowship Program, Associate Director of Digital and Computational Pathology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He also holds an Endowed University Pathology Services Anatomic Pathology Professorship.

Dr. Li is board certified in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology. His practice and academic interests are breast pathology, gynecological pathology, cytopathology and digital pathology. Dr. Li received his MD from Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China and Ph.D and MBA from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. He completed his residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and a fellowship in Cytopathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, and then completed a second fellowship in Breast/Gynecologic Pathology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Li has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and edited book/book chapters. He has received grant support from NIH, DOD, OSU and industry as PI, Co-PI or Co-I. He is currently served as section editor/associate editor and editorial board for several pathology Journals. He is serving/had served as several national society Board members and in multiple national society committees. He has presented numerous lectures on national/international scientific conferences and teaching courses.

Board Certifications

2013 Cytopathology, American Board of Pathology

2012 Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, American Board of Pathology

Academic and Medical Appointments

2026-Present Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

2023-Present Professor, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

2019-2023 Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

2014-2019 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Education and Training

2013-2014 Fellow, Breast and Gynecological Pathology, Magee Womens Hospital of Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center

2012-2013 Fellow, Cytopathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

2008-2012 Resident, Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Selected Publications

Search in PubMed

  • Kumar H, Hu Y, Tahir M, Tozbikian G, Parwani AV, Li Z. Incidence, Clinicopathologic Features, and Follow-up results of Invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular-like growth pattern. Clinical Breast Cancer. 2026 Jun;26(6):25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2026.04.003.
  • Li Z. Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence: An Overview and Recent Updates. Pathology Research. 2026:1-29. DOI: 10.2738/PR.2026.0005
  • Zhong Y, Mazik L, Su H, Chiang CY, Geng F, Mo X, Wang Q, Kou Y, Chen W, Li Z, Horbinski C, Chakravarti A, Wang QE, Guo D. SREBP-1 upregulates SOAT1 to promote tumor growth by preventing lipotoxicity. Cell Rep. 2026 Jan 24;45(2):116896.
  • Kumari A, Kumar H, Harvey SE, Xing D, Li Z. Molecular Classification of Endometrial Carcinomas: Review and Recent Updates. Cancers (Basel). 2025 Dec 24;18(1):51.
  • Liu Y, Prasad CB, Qiu Z, Singh D, Bean N, Honne S, Zhang X, Yan C, Li Z, Kim B, Wang QE, Zhang J. CD40 drives tumor growth in non-small cell lung cancer via non-canonical immune-independent mechanisms. Cancer Lett. 2026 Jan 16;637:218151.
  • Khan H, Su Z, Zhang H, Wang Y, Ning B, Wei S, Guo H, Li Z, Niazi MKK. Predicting Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Pre-Treatment Histopathologic Images. Cancers (Basel). 2025 Jul 22;17(15):2423.
  • Datwani S, Khan H, Niazi MKK, Parwani AV, Li Z. Artificial intelligence in breast pathology: Overview and recent updates. Hum Pathol. 2025 May 27:105819.
  • Hsiao WY, Nguyen TTA, Yang W, Yan H, Li Z, Zhang L, Yang J, Li X. Clinicopathologic and Whole Exome Sequencing Analyzes of High-Grade Serous Carcinoma-Like Carcinoma of the Breast Reveal Unique Genetic Profile and Poor Clinical Outcome. Am J Surg Pathol. 2025 May 23.
  • VandenBussche CJ, Jackson A, Li Z, Zhao C, Chandra A, Schmitt F, Kurtycz DFI, Crothers B. The International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology survey data reveal substantial variability in the reporting and utilization of pelvic washing and peritoneal fluid specimens among pathologists and gynecologic oncologists. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2025 Apr 15:S2213-2945(25)00048-1.
  • Li Z, King A, Souers R, Roberson JJ, Masood S, Alex D, Magers MJ, Hegde P, Tabbara SO. Breast Biomarker Cytology Practice in 2023: Results of a College of American Pathologists Survey. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2025 Dec 1;149(12):1065-1071.
  • Li Z, Ding Q, Xing D, Parwani AV. SOX17 expression in normal mesothelium and mesothelial lesions. Histopathology. 2025 Jul;87(1):161-163.
  • Hu Y, Jones D, Zhao W, Tozbikian G, Parwani AV, Li Z. Incidence, Clinicopathological Features and Follow-up Results of HER2-ultralow Breast Carcinoma. Mod Pathol. 2025 Aug;38(8):100783.
  • Tahir M, Hu Y, Kumar H, Shaker N, Kellough D, Goodman S, Vecsler M, Lujan G, Frankel WL, Parwani AV, Li Z. A Comprehensive AI-Based Approach in Classifying Breast Lesions: Focusing on Improving Pathologists’ Accuracy and Efficiency. Clinical Breast Cancer. 2025 Aug;25(6):e818-e825.
  • Li Z, Hu Y, Jones D, Zhao W, Tozbikian G, Parwani AV. Clinicopathologic characteristics and follow up outcomes of invasive breast carcinoma with different positive HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization patterns: experience from a single academic institution. Mod Pathol. 2025 Jan;38(1):100637.
  • Tahir M, Xing D, Ding Q, Wang Y, Singh K, Suarez AA, Parwani A, Li Z. Identifying mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma of the endometrium by combining SOX17 and PAX8 immunohistochemistry. Histopathology. 2025 Jan;86(2):268-277.
  • Prasad CB, Oo A, Liu Y, Qiu Z, Zhong Y, Li N, Singh D, Xin X, Cho YJ, Li Z, Zhang X, Yan C, Zheng Q, Wang QE, Guo D, Kim B, Zhang J. The thioredoxin system determines CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity via redox-mediated regulation of ribonucleotide reductase activity. Nat Commun. 2024 May 31;15(1):4667.
  • Ajabnoor R, Zhang G, Hu Y, Gao Y, Finkelman BS, Turner BM, Yi S, Dhakal A, Audeh W, Li Z, Li X, Hicks DG, Zhang H. Breast Cancer With HER2 Immunohistochemical Score 2 and Average HER2 Signals/Cell 6 or More and HER2/CEP17 Ratio Less Than 2 ('ISH Group 3'): A Multi-institutional Cohort Analysis Emphasizing Outcome and Molecular Subtype. Mod Pathol. 2024 Aug;37(8):100530.
  • Kim D, Thrall MJ, Michelow P, Schmitt FC, Vielh PR, Siddiqui MT, Sundling KE, Virk R, Alperstein S, Bui MM, Chen-Yost H, Donnelly AD, Lin O, Liu X, Madrigal E, Zakowski MF, Parwani AV, Jenkins E, Pantanowitz L, Li Z. The current state of digital cytology and artificial intelligence (AI): global survey results from the American Society of Cytopathology Digital Cytology Task Force. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2024 Sep-Oct;13(5):319-328.
  • Shaker N, Shen R, Limbach AL, Satturwar S, Kobalka P, Ahmadian S, Sun S, Chen W, Lujan G, Esnakula A, Parwani A, Li Z. Automated imaging analysis of Ki-67 immunohistochemistry on whole slide images of cell blocks from pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2024 May-Jun;13(3):205-212.
  • Kim D, Sundling KE, Virk R, Thrall MJ, Alperstein S, Bui MM, Chen-Yost H, Donnelly AD, Lin O, Liu X, Madrigal E, Michelow P, Schmitt FC, Vielh PR, Zakowski MF, Parwani AV, Jenkins E, Siddiqui MT, Pantanowitz L, Li Z. Digital cytology part 2: artificial intelligence in cytology: a concept paper with review and recommendations from the American Society of Cytopathology Digital Cytology Task Force. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2024 Mar-Apr;13(2):97-110.
  • Kim D, Sundling KE, Virk R, Thrall MJ, Alperstein S, Bui MM, Chen-Yost H, Donnelly AD, Lin O, Liu X, Madrigal E, Michelow P, Schmitt FC, Vielh PR, Zakowski MF, Parwani AV, Jenkins E, Siddiqui MT, Pantanowitz L, Li Z. Digital cytology part 1: digital cytology implementation for practice: a concept paper with review and recommendations from the American Society of Cytopathology Digital Cytology Task Force. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2024 Mar-Apr;13(2):86-96.