Scientists
Education and Appointments
Education
1997.09 – 2003.01, Ph. D.; Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
2001.05 – 2001.08, Visiting Scholar; Fachbereich Mathematik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
1997.09 – 1998.07, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
1993.09 – 1997.07, B.S.; Department of Biology, Anhui Normal University
Professional Experience
2007.12 – Current, Principal Investigator; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2004.10 – 2008.01, Visiting Fellow; Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
2003.02 – 2004.09, Postdoctoral Fellow; Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Research Areas
Dr. Yao is working on the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of human diseases, in particular for Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, drug addiction and leprosy. He is also chairing a project on understanding the genome biology of Chinese tree shrew – a rising star of a laboratory animal. Yao lab strives for EAF (Evolutionary analysis; Association study; Functional assay), to make research and life Easier And Fun.
Dr. Yao has Published over 330 papers and reviews in SCI journals including Am J Hum Genet, PNAS, and Autophagy, with over 14,100 citations and an h-index of 59 (as of May 26,2025). Dr. Yao serves as the editor-in-chief of Zool Res, associate editors of J Hum Genet and Infect Genet Evol, academic editor of PLoS ONE, editorial board members of J Genet Genomics, Mol Cell Neurobiol, and Sci Rep. He had received many awards including the State Natural Science Award of China (second class), Zhuliyuehua Award for Outstanding Teachers of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Supported Projects
2023.1-2027.12 National Natural Science Foundation of China (32230021) Molecular mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of multiple functional variants and causal genes within one susceptibility locus on the development of Alzheimer's disease. Principal Investigator (PI). RMB 2.72 Million Yuan(272万元)
2026.1-2029.12 National Natural Science Foundation of China (U25A20646).Development of genetically modified immune-compromised tree shrews for modeling HCV chronic infection. 项目负责人Principal Investigator (PI). RMB 2.65 Million Yuan(265万元)
2022.12-2026.11 National Key Research and Development Plan Program (2022YFF0710900) 非人灵长类动物模型平台 Non-human primate animal model platform.课题负责人Sub-Project Leader. RMB 7.0 Million Yuan(702万元)
2024.1-2026.12 Key Project of the CAS “Light of West China” Program (xbzg-zdsys-202302) 树鼩疾病动物模型创建和利用Creation and Utilization of Tree Shrew Disease Animal Models. 项目负责人Principal Investigator (PI). RMB 2.0 Million Yuan(200万元)
2023.8-2026.7 Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (202305AH340006) 表型功能分子开发和创新利用Development and Innovative Utilization of Phenotype-Functional Molecules. 项目负责人Principal Investigator (PI). RMB 16 million(1600万元)
Awards and Honors
2015 Grand Challenges 2015 – Young Scientist Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2014 Award for Science and Technology Advancement of Yunnan Province (second class). Awardees: Yong-Gang Yao, A-Mei Zhang, Dandan Yu, Rui Bi; project title: Genetic susceptibility of LHON
2012 Zhuliyuehua Award for Outstanding Teachers of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
2010 Award for Distinguished Expert with Outstanding Contribution to Yunnan Province
2009 State Class Persons of National New Century Talents Award
2006 State Natural Science Award of China (second class). Awardees: Ya-Ping Zhang, Yong-Gang Yao, Qing-Peng Kong, Yuan-Chun Ding, Chang Sun; project title: Mitochondrial genome diversity and population history of East Asian.
2005 The top 100 Ph.D. thesis of China. Thesis title: Demographic History of the Chinese Ethnic Groups: a Mitochondrial DNA Perspective
2004 Excellent Ph.D. thesis of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thesis title: Demographic History of the Chinese Ethnic Groups: a Mitochondrial DNA Perspective
2004 Award for Science and Technology Advancement of Yunnan Province (third class). Awardees: Lu-Ming Dai, Ya-Ping Zhang, Xin Lu, Yong-Gang Yao, Min Yang, Jian-Qing Zhang, Li-Zhou Fang; project title: ß2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms and asthma exacerbations
2003 Award for Science and Technology Advancement of Yunnan Province (third class). Awardees: Xue-Ping Li, Ya-Ping Zhang, Xiao-Yong Man, Yong-Gang Yao, Chang-Zhi Mao, Huai-Rong Luo, Jing-Fen Zheng; project title: Association of complement C4 null genes and C2 gene genotypes with systemic lupus erythematosus in southwest Han Chinese
2002 Special President Scholarship for postgraduate students of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
2001 Short-term fellowship from the German Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD).
2000 Di-Ao Scholarship and President Scholarship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
1998 Dongshi Eastern Fellowship, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.
Publications
1. Liu Q*, Jiao L, Ye M-S, Ma Z, Yu J, Su L-Y, Zou W-Y, Yang L-X, Chen C, Yao Y-G*. 2024. GSNOR negatively regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome via S-nitrosation of MAPK14. Cellular and Molecular Immunology,21(6):561-574.
2. Xu L*, Yu D, Xu M, Liu Y, Yang L-X, Zou Q-C, Feng X-L, Li M-H, Sheng N*, Yao Y-G*. 2024. Primate-specific BTN3A2 protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection by interacting with and reducing ACE2. EBioMedicine,107: 105281.
3. Bi R*, Li Y, Xu M, Zheng Q, Zhang D-F, Li X, Ma G, Xiang B, Zhu X, Zhao H, Huang X, Zheng P, Yao Y-G*. 2022. Direct evidence of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mitochondrial genome editing. The Innovation,3(6):100329
4. Xu M, Liu Q, Bi R, Li Y, Li H, Kang W-B, Yan Z, Zheng Q, Sun C, Ye M, Xiang B-L, Luo X-J, Li M, Zhang D-F*, Yao Y-G*. 2023. Co-existence of multiple functional variants and genes underlie genetic risk locus 11p11.2 of Alzheimer's disease. Biological Psychiatry,94(9):743-759
5. Luo R*, Fan Y, Yang J, Ye M, Zhang D-F, Guo K, Li X, Bi R, Xu M, Yang L-X, Li Y, Ran X, Jiang H-Y, Zhang C, Tan L, Sheng N, Yao Y-G*. 2021. A novel missense variant in ACAA1 contributes to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, impairs lysosomal function, and facilitates amyloid-β pathology and cognitive decline. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy,6(1):325.
Member
Laboratory Staff：
Dr. Rui Bi, Senior Engineer;
Dr. Dandan Yu, Associate Professor;
Dr. Ling Xu, Associate Professor；
Dr. Min Xu, Associate Professor;
Dr. Hongli Li, Associate Professor;
Dr. Jingsong Yu , Associate Professor;
Dr. Zhongjiang Yan, Assistant Professor;
Luxiu Yang, Technician
Graduate Students：
Xiao-qian Ran; Ya-rong Guo; Xiao-Jia Zhu;
Xiao-rong Wu; Wei-Bo Kang; Hui Zeng;
Wei-YinZhou; Xin-Dan Qin; Yan-he Jin;
Hao-wei Yang
