Photo of Yulan  Xiong, Ph.D.

Yulan Xiong, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
Assistant Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program
Academic Office Location:
Neuroscience
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3401
Phone: 860-679-4116
Email: yxiong@uchc.edu
Website(s):

Neuroscience

Yulan Xiong Lab

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
Ph.D.Lancaster University, UKBiochemistry & Molecular Genetics

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineNeurology

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Eshelman institute for Innovation AwardsEII University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
NIH R01 Grant (2019-2024)NIH/NINDS
Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award (2019-2023)Parkinson's Foundation
C-NAP COBRE Center Pilot GrantNIH/NIGMS
Research GrantAmerican Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA)
K-INBRE Bridging AwardNIH/NIGMS
Success for Young Investigators SUCCESS-FYI Award (2016, 2017, 2018)KSU-CVM
Innovative Research AwardsJohnson Center for Basic Cancer Research
The William N. & Bernice E. Bumpus Foundation Innovation Awards (2015-2018)The William N. & Bernice E. Bumpus Foundation
K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (2014-2022)NIH/NIA
Rapid Response Innovation AwardsThe Michael J. Fox foundation (MJFF)
Postdoctoral Fellowship AwardAmerican Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA)
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Award Committee, Parkinson’s FoundationStudy SectionChairExternalInternational2023
NIH NOMD Study SectionStudy SectionStanding memberExternalNational20232027
BMS PhD Program Admissions CommitteeAdvisory CommitteeReview memberUConn HealthUniversity2022
Neuroscience Graduate ProgramAdvisory CommitteeAssistant DirectorUConn HealthUniversity2022
NIH NOMD Study SectionStudy SectionAd hoc ReviewerExternalNational20222023
NIH CDIN Study SectionStudy SectionAd hoc ReviewerExternalNational2022
MD/PhD Program Admissions CommitteeAdvisory CommitteeInterviewerUConn HealthUniversity2022
Neuroscience Program Advisory Committee (NPAC)Advisory CommitteeAt Large MemberUConn HealthUniversity20212022
Co-guest editor at Cells, Special Issue “Signaling and Mechanisms of Cell Death in the Nervous SystemProfessional/Scientific JournalCo-guest editorExternalInternational20202021
Medical Research Council (MRC), UKStudy SectionGrant reviewerExternalInternational2020
US-Israel Binational Science FoundationStudy SectionGrant reviewerExternalInternational2020
Parkinson's Foundation grant review committeeStudy SectionCommittee memberExternalInternational2017
NIH CMND Study SectionStudy SectionAd hoc ReviewerExternalNational2017
French National research Agency (ANR), FranceStudy SectionGrant reviewerExternalInternational2017
Neurodegenerative Diseases research, Maratona da Saúde,PortugalStudy SectionGrant reviewerExternalInternational2017
Parkinson’s UK grantStudy SectionGrant reviewerExternalInternational2015

Molecular Pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease


Our lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, with a specific emphasis on Parkinson’s disease (PD).


Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Currently there is no effective therapy. The Xiong lab aims to understand the mechanisms underlying PD with a specific focus on four major questions: 1) How do PD-associated proteins contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration? 2) What are the new molecules and how are they involved in PD pathogenesis? 3) What is the human relevance of our findings? 4) How to develop the pharmacological strategies to slow down the PD symptoms?


To answer these questions, Dr. Xiong’s group has developed a variety of model systems from single cell organism budding yeast to Drosophila, mice, primary and human neuronal cultures. Using these systems, the lab’s general approaches are to use a powerful combination of genetics, molecular biology, viral approaches and behavioral analysis to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases in human. The lab’s research goal is to identify molecular therapeutic targets that will ultimately lead to developing effective biomarkers and treatments for PD.


The Xiong lab welcomes motivated postdocs and graduate students to join the team.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Reviews