Ying Xu MD, PhD
Ying Xu
MD, PhD
Professional Summary:
I have the expertise, leadership, training, and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed research project. I have a broad background in neuroscience and pharmacology, with specific training and expertise in behavioral, neurochemical and neurobiological analyses in animal models related to neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease and neuropathic pain. My research includes investigation of CNS functional roles of natural polyphenols (curcumin, resveratrol and ferulic acid) and the selective phosphodiesterases (PDEs) inhibitors (PDE2, 4, 5 and 9) for treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, in the mediation of the above diseases and the involved intracellular mechanisms. As PI or co-Investigator on the institutional- and NIH funded grants, I laid the groundwork for the proposed research by assessing the roles of PDE4 and its major subtypes (PDE4-A, B and D) in mediating antidepressant and memory-enhancing properties in aspects of behavior, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Recently, my project focused on identification of PDE2 and 9 as targets for treatment of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in exploration of intracellular signal pathways. In addition, I successfully administered the projects collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-reviewed publications from these projects.
Education and Training:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, West Virginia University (2013)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida (2008)
- PhD, Neuropharmacology, Peking University (2006)
- MS, Neuropharmacology, Nanjing Medical University (2001)
- MD, Xuzhou Medical College (1989)
Employment:
- Research Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo (2013-present)
- Research Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2013-present)
- Assistant Professor, Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University, School of Medicine (2013–2014)
Awards and Honors:
- Winter Conference on Brain Research Travel Award (2015)
- American Association of College of Pharmacy New Investigator Award (2014)
- Top Reviewer Award of Elsevier Pharmacology Journals (2010)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- April 2018–April 2019
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Grant
UB
Role: Principal Investigator
$50,000 - June 2012–May 2017
PDE4D allosteric modulators for treating cognitive impairment
Role: Co-Investigator - December 2014–December 2016
American Association of College of Pharmacy New Investigator Award
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,000 - May 2013–July 2016
PDE4B inhibitors for treating major depression
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - May 2015–May 2016
Innovative Micro-Programs Accelerating Collaboration in Themes: University at Buffalo Internal Funding Program (IMPACT)
UB
Role: Principal Investigator
$32,500
Journal Articles:
- Xu Y, Zhu N, Xu W, Ye H, Liu K, Wu F, Zhang M, Ding Y, Zhang C, Zhang H, O'Donnell J, Pan J, O‘Donnell JM. Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase-4 Reverses Aβ-Induced Memory Impairment by Regulation of HPA Axis Related cAMP Signaling. Front Aging Neurosci. 2018; 10.
- Li G, Wang G, Shi J, Xie X, Fei N, Chen L, Liu N, Yang M, Pan J, Huang W, Xu Y. trans-Resveratrol ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors and fear memory deficits in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuropharmacology. 2018; 133.
- Lian L, Xu Y, Zhang J, Yu Y, Zhu N, Guan X, Huang H, Chen R, Chen J, Shi G, Pan J. Antidepressant-like effects of a novel curcumin derivative J147: Involvement of 5-HT1A receptor. Neuropharmacology. 2018; 135.
- Wang W, Yin J, Ma X, Zhao F, Siedlak SL, Wang Z, Torres S, Fujioka H, Xu Y, Perry G, Zhu X. Inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation protects against Alzheimer's disease in rodent model. Hum Mol Genet. 2017; 26(21).
- Wang L, Xiaokaiti Y, Wang G, Xu X, Chen L, Huang X, Liu L, Pan J, Hu S, Chen Z, Xu Y. Inhibition of PDE2 reverses beta amyloid induced memory impairment through regulation of PKA/PKG-dependent neuro-inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Sci Rep. 2017; 7(1).
- Wang ZZ, Yang WX, Zhang Y, Zhao N, Zhang YZ, Liu YQ, Xu Y, Wilson SP, O'Donnell JM, Zhang HT, Li YF, O‘Donnell JM. Phosphodiesterase-4D Knock-down in the Prefrontal Cortex Alleviates Chronic Unpredictable Stress-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Memory Deficits in Mice. Sci Rep. 2015; 5.
- Xu Y, Pan J, Sun J, Ding L, Ruan L, Reed M, Yu X, Klabnik J, Lin D, Li J, Chen L, Zhang C, Zhang H, O'Donnell JM, O‘Donnell JM. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 2 reverses impaired cognition and neuronal remodeling caused by chronic stress. Neurobiol Aging. 2015; 36(2).
- Ding L, Zhang C, Masood A, Li J, Sun J, Nadeem A, Zhang HT, O'Donnell JM, Xu Y. Protective effects of phosphodiesterase 2 inhibitor on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors: Involvement of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Behav Brain Res. 2014; 268.
- Xu Y, Wang C, Klabnik JJ, O'Donnell JM, O‘Donnell JM. Novel therapeutic targets in depression and anxiety: antioxidants as a candidate treatment. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2014; 12(2).
- Zhang C, Yu Y, Ruan L, Wang C, Pan J, Klabnik J, Lueptow L, Zhang HT, O'Donnell JM, Xu Y, O‘Donnell JM. The roles of phosphodiesterase 2 in the central nervous and peripheral systems. Curr Pharm Des. 2014; 21(3).
- Xu Y, Zhang HT, O‘Donnell JM, O‘Donnell J. Phosphodiesterases in the central nervous system: implications in mood and cognitive disorders. 2011; (204).
Professional Memberships:
- Ad-hoc Journal Reviewer Editor; Frontiers in Systems Biology; Acta Neuropharmacology
- Ad-hoc Journal Reviewer; CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics. European Journal of Pharmacology; European Neuropsychopharmacology; Experimental Neurology; International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research; Journal of Ethnopharmacology; Journal of Neurochemistry; Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET); Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; Metabolic Brain Disease; Neurochemical Research; Neurological Research; Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior; PLoS One; Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry; Scientia Pharmaceutica; Stress;
Presentations:
- "Reversal of NADPH oxidase mediated depression- and anxiety-like behaviors by inhibition of phosphodiesterase 2." Winter Conference on Brain Research, Society for Neuroscience, Phosphosdiesterase inhibitors and CNS disease (2015)
- "Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 2 reverses stress-induced mood disorders: involvement of NADPH oxidase function." Society for Neuroscience 45th Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience, Emotional disease (2014)
- "The phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor rolipram reverses alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior in mice and rats" Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 37th Annual Scientific Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism, Research Society on Alcoholism (2014)
- "Role of PDE2 in stress-induced impairment of cognition and neural remodeling" Behavioral Pharmacology conference, Behavioral Pharmacology Society, Behavioral Pharmacology Section (2014)
- "Role of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) in anxiety" Experimental Biology conference, Pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, Behavioral Pharmacology Section (2014)
- "Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 2 reverses behavioral and synaptic deficits caused by chronic stress exposure" (2012)
- "Phosphodiesterase-2 inhibitor reverses corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity and related behavior changes via cGMP/PKG dependent pathway" Neuroscience 42th Annual Meeting (2011)
Service Activities:
- Judge for Graduate Student Best Abstract Award; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2014–present)
- Ad-hoc Journal Reviewer Editor; Board Member (2009–present)
- Ad-hoc Journal Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2006–present)