The polysaccharide heparan sulfate (HS) is ubiquitously expressed in animal tissues. Prof. Dr. Jin-Ping Li aims to understand the multiple biological roles of HS within a broad functional context. Regulation of HS biosynthesis and turnover is studied in molecular detail, and the results are related to embryonic development as well as to homeostasis and pathophysiology. Prof. Dr. Jin-Ping Li focuses on two critical enzymes, glucuronyl C5-epimerase and heparanase, of key importance in HS biosynthesis and degradation, respectively. Heparanase is implicated in several diseases, and thus provides an attractive therapeutic target. Biochemical, molecular and immunohistological tools are applied, with a focus on genetically modified mouse models and cell lines.