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.

Enrollment Major
Neurobiology

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

Selected Publications

1. Huang H, Wang ZF, Weng SJ, Sun XH, Yang XL* (2013). Neuromodulatory role of melatonin in retinal information processing. Prog Retin Eye Res, 32:64-87

2. Dong LD, Gao F, Wang XH, Miao YY, Wang SY, Wu Y, Li F, Wu JH, Cheng XL, Sun XH, Yang XL, Wang ZF*(2015). GluA2 trafficking is involved in apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells induced by activation of EphB/EphrinBReverse signaling in a rat chronic ocular hypertension model.J Neurosci, 35(13): 5409-5421

3. Hu X, Zhao GL, Xu MX, Zhou H, Li F, Miao Y, Lei B, Yang XL*, Wang Z* (2021). Interplay between Müller cells and microglia aggravates retinal inflammatory response in experimental glaucoma. J Neuroinflammation, 18: v303

4. Zhou W, Wang LQ, Shao YQ, Han X, Yu CX, Yuan F, Wang X, Weng SJ*, Zhong YM*, Yang XL* (2021). Orexin-A intensifies mouse pupillary light response by modulating intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci, 41: 2566-2580

5. Liu AL, Liu YF, Wang G, Shao YQ, Yu CX, Yang Z, Zhou ZR, Han X, Gong X, Qian KW, Wang LQ, Ma YY, Zhong YM*, Weng SJ*, Yang XL* (2022). The role of ipRGCs in ocular growth and myopia development. Sci Adv, 8: eabm9027