Professor Xiong-Li Yang obtained a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Shanghai University of Science and Technology in 1963, and a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from Shizuoka University and National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan in 1982.
He was a foreign fellow at Harvard University (1985-1986), a visiting professor at Baylor College of Medicine (1987-2003). He was appointed as professor in the Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1986 and served as director of that institute (1988 -1999). He is currently professor and director of the Institute of Neurobiology, Fudan University. He was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1991) and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (2006).
He has been long associated with the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Physiological Societies [Vice-president (1994-2002); Secretary General (2006-2011)]. He was the president of the Chinese Association of Physiological Sciences (1998-2002).
He has received numerous honors and awards. He has published many papers in peer-reviewed international journals, such as Science, Journal of Neuroscience, Glia, Journal of Physiology, Neuroscience, Journal of Neurophysiology, etc.

Research Work

We study how retinal functions are modulated by some important neuroactive substances, such as melatonin, orexin, etc., by monitoring light responses of various retinal neurons. We also explore roles of retinal neurons and glial cells in the pathogenesis of experimental glaucoma and myopia.

Research Direction

Information processing in the retina under normal and diseased conditions.

Distinguished researcher of the Hebei University School of Basic Medical Sciences, once served as director of the Key Laboratory of Neurobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Life Sciences, professor and vice president of the School of Life Sciences in Shanghai University. He has successively served as the leader of the sub projects of the National "973" Project "Basic Research on Brain Function and Major Brain Diseases" and "Dynamic Balance Regulation of Brain Function". He has long been engaged in pharmacological and toxicological research on ion channels and related modulators/ligands of biological membranes. In particular, his group hasconducted systematic research on the biochemical and physiological activities of domestically produced resource specific natural membrane channel modulators and blockers, as well as the integration and regulation of membrane channel pharmacological function and toxicology, forming a certain characteristic advantage in the international academic research field. He served as Vice Chairman of the Chinese Society of Neuroscience, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Biophysics, Deputy Editor in Chief of the Journal of Physiology, Editorial Board Member of Biophysics Journal, Neuroscience Bulletin, and Chemistry of Life.

Chief Professor of Qingdao University, Dean of School of Pharmacy, Doctoral Supervisor, Overseas Distinguished Expert of "Mount Taishan Scholar" of Shandong Provincial Government, Former Lifelong Professor and Doctoral Tutor of West Virginia University School of Medicine, President of China Association for Science and Technology in America (CAST-USA), Executive Vice Chairman of North American Pharmacology Branch of Chinese Pharmacological Society, and Standing Committee Member of Neuropsychopharmacology Professional Committee. Founder/Executive Director of the Association of Chinese Neuroscientists in the United States, Executive Director of the North American Pharmacological Society, and Honorary President of the West Virginia Chinese Association/West Virginia Branch of the Association for American Studies (CAST-WV). President of the Mount Taishan Academic Forum - International Neuropsychiatric Science Academic Summit (2017-2019).

Served as a review expert for various domestic and international funds/projects, including the NIH Research Fund (R01, R21, F series) in the United States, the Special Fund for Research on Elderly Dementia of the Florida Department of Health in the United States, the European Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund ISAO, key projects and major international cooperation projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the "Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor/Lecture Professor" program of the Ministry of Education, and overseas peer review for promotion to senior professional titles in multiple prestigious universities in China. I am the deputy editor in chief or editorial board member of more than ten internationally renowned academic journals, including Frontiers in Pharmacy, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Metabolic Brain Disease, Neuroscience Bulletin, Austin Psychiatry, and General Psychiatry.

Main research directions:

The regulation and mechanism of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and cellular signaling pathways on central function and central nervous system diseases (including alcohol addiction, senile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease, anxiety, depression, etc.), as well as treatment strategies.

Engaged in pharmacological research on the plasticity and molecular epigenetic mechanisms of central neurons and glial cells in early stress, inflammation, pain, and comorbidities with mental disorders, as well as pain relief and gastrointestinal nerves and gut microbiota. Studying the central sensitization of pathological pain, especially the plasticity of neurons, ion channels and receptors, intracellular signal transduction pathways, and central plasticity in functional visceral pain, involves various emotions related to chronic pain, stress, gender differences, neural networks of anxiety and depression, activation of brain gut axis, and comorbidity studies of psychosomatic integration. At the same time, we are committed to establishing clinical models of various pathological pain, early developmental stress-related mental disorders, somatic depression, and irritable bowel syndrome, and developing drugs for the treatment of chronic psychiatric disorders.

We develop and apply cutting-edge methods, by combining optical imaging, neuromodulation, genetic labeling and circuit tracings to functional dissect the neural mechanisms of emotion and associated psychiatric diseases. The laboratory has state-of-the-art optical imaging instruments (two-photon microscope, gradient refraction lens, fiber photometric measurement). We are using these new methods to attack several related neurobiological questions: 1. Stress neurobiology; 2. Circuit mechanisms of neuropsychopharmacology; 3. New strategies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Our research will contribute to the treatment of important mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.