About

Xingen Lei is a Professor of Molecular Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science and Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. He is also the Associate Dean of the Office of Research and Innovation. Lei is internationally recognized for his contributions to sustainable animal agriculture, food security, nutrition, and environmental protection. His research focuses on the development of alternative feed and food proteins, biofortification of staple crops and animal foods with essential micronutrients, and the role of antioxidant enzymes such as selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase in metabolic diseases. He has pioneered the engineering of bacterial phytases used globally in the feed industry, resulting in significant reductions in phosphorus excretion and environmental pollution. Lei's work also includes converting poultry feathers and microalgal biomass into high-value feed proteins and bioactive nutrients to address global food security. He has advanced understanding of selenium's dual roles in oxidative stress and diabetes through gene-knockout and omics technologies. Lei has authored 264 publications, holds over 70 patents, and has received numerous awards, including election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2021. He serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nutrition, president of the International Society of Trace Elements and Mineral Association, and leads large USDA-funded projects aimed at promoting sustainability in the poultry industry. His research integrates molecular, biochemical, and genomics approaches to directly improve human health, food security, and environmental sustainability worldwide.

Research topics

• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Food science
• Ecology
• Endocrinology
• Environmental science
• Immunology
• Animal science
• Physiology
• Bioinformatics
• Chromatography
• Agroforestry
• Pulp and paper industry
• Environmental protection
• Fishery
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Business
• Waste management
• Organic chemistry
• Engineering

Selected publications

• Calycosin Targets the <scp>CYP1B1</scp> ‐ <scp>AKT</scp> / <scp>SP1</scp> ‐ <scp>GPX4</scp> Axis to Modulate Ferroptosis in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

  Phytotherapy Research · 2026-01-06

  articleOpen access

  Calycosin, a natural flavonoid small-molecule compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated remarkable pharmacological activity in the field of cancer therapy. This study systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms of Calycosin in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment through integrated in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vivo experiments revealed that Calycosin effectively inhibits subcutaneous tumor growth in CRC-bearing mice. In vitro assays and transcriptome sequencing confirmed that Calycosin effectively suppresses migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and induces ferroptosis in human CRC cells, thereby inhibiting malignant tumor behaviors. Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) and site-directed mutagenesis experiments first identified cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) and Gly-329 as critical binding targets and sites for Calycosin. Functional studies showed that CYP1B1 knockdown in vitro and in vivo suppresses GPX4 expression and enhances ferroptosis in CRC cells. Mechanistically, CYP1B1 activates the AKT/SP-1 signaling pathway to upregulate GPX4 expression, thereby modulating colorectal carcinogenesis and progression. In summary, this study first unveils the crucial role of Calycosin and the CYP1B1-AKT/SP1-GPX4 regulatory axis in CRC ferroptosis, providing novel theoretical foundations for targeted therapy using traditional Chinese medicine-derived small molecules against colorectal cancer.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dealkalized lignin-crosslinked konjac glucomannan films: Structure, antioxidation, and ultraviolet-blocking properties for fresh-cut eggplants preservation

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2026-01-01

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Role of SELENOS in the Development of Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy in Se Deficient Chickens Under Heat Stress

  Current Developments in Nutrition · 2025-05-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Guidelines for radiation therapy for endometrial cancer by Brachytherapy Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association (V 2025.1)

  Holistic Integrative Oncology · 2025-08-18 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide, with an increasing incidence rate in China. Radiotherapy (RT) is important for the treatment of EC, especially for high risk or advanced stage tumors. The Brachytherapy Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) organized relevant experts to develop this guideline and provide evidence-based RT recommendations tailored to China’s epidemiological and clinical landscape. Highlighting key updates in molecular subtyping and the revised 2023 FIGO staging system, this portion of the CACA Guidelines for EC emphasizes personalized strategies across disease stages and details protocols for postoperative settings (radical resection, incomplete staging), recurrent/metastatic disease, and palliative care. By consolidating contemporary practices and regional data, this framework aims to standardize RT delivery, and improve survival outcomes while minimizing toxicities. We hope that this guideline will provide effective references for radiation oncologists, so as to achieve the best radiation treatment effects for EC patients in China.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Developing a new generation of feed bioactive supplements from microalgae

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-01-01

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• A proud and profound role of The Journal of Nutrition in advancing research and career of nutritionists in China

  Journal of Nutrition · 2025-11-20

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Highlights of The Journal of Nutrition in 2024 ahead to 2025

  Journal of Nutrition · 2025-02-01 · 1 citations

  editorial1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Driving mechanisms of cultural distortion in heritage sites: a multi-stakeholder perspective

  Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change · 2025-08-04

  article1st author
  PublisherDOI

• Efficacy and Biosafety of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Biofortified in Egg Yolk in Mice Fed Two Levels of Dietary Fat

  Journal of Nutrition · 2025-06-01

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Heritage memory and identity: the central role of residents' topophilia in cultural heritage tourism development

  Current Issues in Tourism · 2025-04-04 · 4 citations

  article1st author
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01DK053018

  NIH · $3.2M · 2015

Frequent coauthors

• Jian‐Hong Zhu

  Wenzhou Medical University

  76 shared

• Wen-Hsing Cheng

  Mississippi State University

  65 shared

• Arne Holmgren

  Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  65 shared

• Elias S.J. Arnér

  National Institute of Oncology

  65 shared

• Ye-Shih Ho

  Wayne State University

  65 shared

• Amit R. Reddi

  64 shared

• Yongping Bao

  State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology

  64 shared

• Xinjie Xia

  Institute of Subtropical Agriculture

  40 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Animal Science

  Michigan State University

  1993

Awards & honors

• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2021)
• President and Parent Committee Chair, International Trace El…
• Associate Editor, Journal of Nutrition
• Fellow, American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
• Fellow, American Society of Animal Science (ASAS)