Meet The Team

Principal Investigator
Ronald H. L. Li, DVM, MVetMed, PhD, DACVECC
Ronald H. L. Li, DVM, MVetMed, PhD, DACVECC

Dr. Li is currently an Associate Professor of Emergency and Critical Care at the North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is the principal investigator of the Comparative Platelet and Neutrophil Physiology Laboratory. After obtaining his DVM from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Li completed a rotating internship in Toronto, where he developed a keen interest in emergency and critical care medicine. He worked as an emergency clinician for one year before completing a residency and Master’s of Veterinary Medicine in small animal emergency and critical care at the Royal Veterinary College (UK) in 2014. Dr. Li then pursued a PhD in Integrative Pathobiology at the University of California, Davis, where he studied platelet and neutrophil biology. His research interests include procoagulant platelets in health and diseases, novel antithrombotic treatments in immunothrombosis and precision medicine. He is committed to training clinician scientists and bridging the gap between basic science and clinical research to benefit clinical patients.
In his spare time, he likes to take his 2 Golden Retrievers on his boat, The Lusitropy.
Amanda Chromiak, MS, DVM
Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Resident

Amanda received her Bachelor’s and Master’s from the University of Florida. She obtained her DVM from Ohio State University. She then went on to complete a rotating internship in Colorado prior to starting her small animal emergency and critical care residency at NC State. She is a current resident with a research focus in bleeding diathesis secondary to thrombocytopenia and modeling canine immune mediated thrombocytopenia.
Devansh Fulmali, DVM, MS
PhD Student

Dr. Devansh Fulmali is a veterinarian and graduate researcher originally from India. After obtaining his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from Junagadh Veterinary College, Devansh completed a Master of Veterinary Science in Veterinary Microbiology at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, where he was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship. He then pursued advanced training in immunology through a Master of Science in Immunology and Immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham, UK, supported by a Commonwealth Scholarship. At the Li Lab, he aims to contribute to translational cardiovascular and genetic research while developing his skills as a clinician–scientist. Devansh is committed to connecting veterinary medicine with cutting-edge biomedical research and aspires to build a career advancing both scientific discovery and clinical outcomes
Reagan Glass
DVM Student

Reagan is currently a veterinary student at NC State planning to focus in small animal medicine. She studied Evolutionary Anthropology and Biology at Duke University for my undergraduate degree, and she has one dog named Rollo! Reagan is currently conducting research on the effects of hemolytic anemia and procoagulant platelet formation in dogs.
Maria Guzman, DVM
Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Resident / Veterinary Academic Leaders Fellow

Kylee Long
DVM Student

Kylee is a veterinary student at NC State University and one of her main interests currently is feline health. Previously, she graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania as a Biology major with a Biochemistry minor. She has two cats named Juice and Drizzy. Kylee is currently conducting research on the synergistic effects of dual agent therapy on platelet function in cats.
Victor Rivas, MS, PhD
Dual DVM/PhD Student

Victor is a combined DVM/PhD student born in Diriamba, Nicaragua. He completed an Animal Biology Bachelors and a Genetics Masters degree at University of California-Davis in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Victor recently completed his PhD in the Stern Translational Cardiac Genetics and Pharmacogenomics Laboratory in June of 2024. As a current veterinary student, he continues to conduct research in the laboratory. His research interests include the juxtaposition of genetic and clinical cardiology, along with genetic discovery work for common acquired and rare congenital cardiovascular disorders. Victor aspires to become an academic clinician-scientist in veterinary cardiology.
Lunden Simpson, MS
Lab Manager

Lunden got her Master’s from Clemson University in 2018 where she focused on marine biology and disease ecology. She moved to North Carolina in 2019 and started working at Duke in an early-stage breast cancer research lab. She then transitioned to investigating the adaptive immune system and T-cell development. She joined the Li Lab in 2023 and is working to support her ever-growing menagerie of animals that currently includes 1 horse, 1 dog, and 6 cats.
Esha Srinivasan
Combined DVM/PhD Student

Esha is a combined degree DVM/PhD student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from Cary, NC, she earned a degree in biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania before joining a microbiology diagnostic laboratory. Since then, Esha has moved back to the Triangle to apply her laboratory background to better animal health. Her research interest is the role of innate immunity in myocardial remodeling and the progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. Outside of the lab, Esha enjoys reading, watching Survivor, and listening to podcasts.
Connor Thonen-Fleck
Combined DVM/PhD Student
Connor is a combined degree DVM/PhD student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed bachelor degrees in Biochemistry and Animal Science at NCSU in 2023 and began veterinary school in 2024. He aims to be a clinician-scientist with a focus in small animal medicine. Outside of school, he spends time with his 6 year old golden retriever, Carter Finley.

Jaylen Tyson
DVM Student
Jaylen is a veterinary student at NC state with a strong interest in mixed animal medicine. Whether fur, scales, wings, or hooves, he’s eager to work with them all. Originally from Maryland, he earned his Biology degree from Stevenson University, where he also played sports. Jaylen is investigating the cardiovascular, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics effects of a novel antiplatelet drug in healthy cats.