Scientists
Education and Appointments
Education
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Doctor of Science |
Sep.2008-Jul.2013 |
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Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences | |
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Bachelor of Science |
Sep.2004-Jul.2008 |
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Wuhan University, College of Life Science | |
Professional Experience
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Principal Investigator |
Aug.2016-present | |
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Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences | ||
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Postdoctoral researcher |
Aug.2013- Aug.2016 | |
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Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine | ||
Research Areas
Dr. Li focuses on establishing mouse and non-human primate models that recapitulate the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia. By integrating human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cerebral organoid technologies, he aims to elucidate brain dysfunctions caused by risk genes and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Through investigating gene-drug interactions, he seeks to identify potential drug targets, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Supported Projects
1. National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars, Natural Science Foundation of China; The etiology of bipolar disorder; 2023-2027
2. Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program Yunling Scholar Project, Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department; Construction and mechanistic study of a bipolar disorder disease model using brain organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells; 2024-2026
3. National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, Natural Science Foundation of China; Functional genomics of psychiatric disorders; 2018-2020
Awards and Honors
Second Class Natural Science Award of Yunnan Province; The People's Government of Yunnan Province; 2024 (the first completed person)
Second Class Natural Science Award of Yunnan Province; The People's Government of Yunnan Province; 2025 (the third completed person)
Publications
1. Zhang CY, Li M, Sun P, Hui L, Gao Y, Yang JZ, Zhang N, Feng X, Wu Y, Guo L, Yuan J, Jiang HY, Cheng YQ, Ma S, Gong Q, Sun Y, Li Y, Qu N, Yin XY, Wang L, Yang Y, Wang C, Lv L, Zhou D, Li X, Chen X, Zhang C, Chen J, Song X, Tang J, Cai J, Fan W, Tang W, Tang W, Li W, Tang X, Zhang X, Lu Y, Yao YG, Wang C, So HC, Iwata N, Ikeda M, Saito T, Liu Z, Xu S, Yue W, GeseDNA Research Team, Fang Y, Zhu F, Xiao X, Li M (2026) Trans-ancestry genome-wide analyses of bipolar disorder in East Asian and European populations improve genetic discovery. Nature Neuroscience. 29:293-305. DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02147-2
2. Zhou D, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Zhang C, Zhang Q, Huo J, Cui K, Wu Y, Chang H, Wang C, Xiao X, Cai X, Li M (2026) A causal coding variant regulating alternative splicing of DOC2A at 16p.11.2 GWAS locus influences susceptibility to schizophrenia. Science Advances. 12:eadw7667. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw7667
3. Wang YH, Fu CL, Chen LB, Zhang CY, Chen JS, Zhang QM, Liang Y, Yang RL, Li Y, Zhang YN, Han YN, Yuan ZL, Chen YN, Li H, Pan Y, Hu S, Li M, Cao LP, Yao J (2025) Microglia contribute to bipolar depression through Serinc2-dependent phospholipid synthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 122:e2500116122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2500116122
4. Li HJ, Zhang C, Hui L, Zhou DS, Li Y, Zhang CY, Wang C, Wang L, Li W, Yang Y, Qu N, Tang J, He Y, Zhou J, Yang Z, Li X, Cai J, Yang L, Chen J, Fan W, Tang W, Tang W, Jia QF, Liu W, Zhuo C, Song X, Liu F, Bai Y, Zhong BL, Zhang SF, Chen J, Xia B, Lv L, Liu Z, Hu S, Li XY, Liu JW, Cai X, Yao YG, Zhang Y, Yan H, Chang S, Zhao JP, Yue WH, Luo XJ, Chen X, Xiao X, Fang Y, Li M, for the GeseDNA Research Team (2021) Novel risk loci associated with genetic risk for bipolar disorder among Han Chinese individuals: A genome-wide association study and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 78: 320-330. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3738
5. Chang H, Cai X, Li HJ, Liu WP, Zhao LJ, Zhang CY, Wang JY, Liu JW, Ma XL, Wang L, Yao YG, Luo XJ, Li M, Xiao X (2021) Functional genomics identify a regulatory risk variation rs4420550 in the 16p11.2 schizophrenia-associated locus. Biological Psychiatry. 89:246-255. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.016
6. Li M, Jaffe AE, Straub RE, Tao R, Shin JH, Wang Y, Chen Q, Li C, Jia Y, Ohi K, Maher BJ, Brandon NJ, Cross A, Chenoweth J, Hoeppner DJ, Wei H, Hyde TM, McKay R, Kleinman JE, Weinberger DR (2016) A human-specific AS3MT isoform and BORCS7 are molecular risk factors in the 10q24.32 schizophrenia associated locus. Nature Medicine. 22:649-656. DOI: 10.1038/nm.4096
7. Xiao X, Zhang C, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Wang L, Li L, Zhou D, Yuan T-F, Wang C, Chang H, Wu Y, Li Y, Wu D-D, Yao Y-G, Li M (2018) The cAMP responsive element-binding (CREB)-1 gene increases risk of major psychiatric disorders. Molecular Psychiatry. 23:1957-1967. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.243
8. Chang H, Hoshina N, Zhang C, Ma Y, Cao H, Wang Y, Wu DD, Bergen SE, Landén M, Hultman CM, Preisig M, Kutalik Z, Castelao E, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Forstner AJ, Strohmaier J, Hecker J, Schulze TG, Müller-Myhsok B, Reif A, Mitchell PB, Martin NG, Schofield PR, Cichon S, Nöthen MM, The Swedish Bipolar Study Group, MooDS Bipolar Consortium, Walter H, Erk S, Heinz A, Amin N, van Duijn CM, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Tost H, Xiao X, Yamamoto T, Rietschel M, Li M (2018) The protocadherin 17 gene affects cognition, personality, amygdala structure and function, synapse development and risk of major mood disorders. Molecular Psychiatry. 23:400-412. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.231
9. Li M, Luo XJ, Xiao X, Shi L, Liu XY, Yin LD, Diao HB, Su B (2011) Allelic differences between Han Chinese and Europeans for functional variants in ZNF804A and their association with schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry. 168:1318-1325. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11030381
Member
Laboratory Staff
Dr. Yong Wu Research Associate
Dr. Zhihui Yang Postdoctoral fellow
Ms Shuang Wang Senior Engineer
Graduate Students
Miao Li
Jinhua Huo
Shan Yang
Na Yang
Kesi Cui
Ziyi Chen
Qingshan Yang
