Research Field: Perioperative Brain Protection

Main Academic Achievements:

Dr. XIONG firstly discovers and reports that hyperbaric oxygen, electroacupuncture and inhalation anesthetic pretreatment can induce significant brain protection, explores its mechanism of action and achieves preliminary transformation. He has successively obtained 23 fund projects, including 973, National Key Fund for Nature, and National New Drug Creation. He published 269 SCI treatises in Sci Transl Med, J Am Coll Cardiol, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, J Clin Invest, Anesthesiology, etc. He won the First Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award.

Also known as

President of Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine

Doctoral Supervisor

Director of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Brain Function Regulation

Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology

Associate Editor-in-Chief of J Perioperatvie Medicne

Recipient of National Outstanding Youth Foundation

Distinguished Professor of the Cheung Kong Scholars 

Chief Scientist of Project 973 of the Ministry of Science and Technology

Academic Leader of the Innovation Team of the Ministry of Education and Innovation Team in Key Areas of the Ministry of Science and Technology

Immediate Past President, Chinese Society of Anesthesiology (CSA)

Dr. Ding is currently a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany, where he is dedicated to developing novel therapies for perioperative organ protection. Using genetic and cellular approaches, Dr. Ding has focused on mitigating ischemic injury in the heart and has identified several key molecular targets that confer significant cardiac protection following ischemic events in preclinical models. His research has led to several important discoveries, including the demonstration that robust cardiac protection and regeneration can be achieved through stem cell-based therapies.

Dr. Ding has published more than 60 papers in high-profile journals and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific publications.

Dr. Zhang, a Level 2 Professor-Level Chief Physician, serves as a Master/PhD Supervisor at the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. With 40+ years' experience, she excels in anesthesia for geriatric/complex patients, postoperative analgesia, and specialized surgeries. She has published 52 SCI papers (including in Science Signaling and Pain), authored 13 monographs, and led 18 research projects, 3 funded by NSFC. Honors like "Outstanding Chinese Anesthesiologist" and "Top 10 Most Influential Women in Henan" recognize her work. She also holds key roles in Chinese Medical Association Anesthesiology Branch and serves on Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology's editorial board, contributing significantly to clinical and academic anesthesiology.

Dr. Wankun Chen serves as Chief Physician, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and as Executive Deputy Director of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Shanghai Geriatrics Center. As principal investigator, he has led three projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and eight provincial or ministerial-level research projects. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Academic Leader of Shanghai, a Shanghai Medical Rising Star (Distinguished Young Medical Talent), and a recipient of the Shanghai "Pujiang Talent Program."

Dr. Chen’s research focuses on perioperative immune homeostasis and brain protection in critically ill patients, spanning basic, clinical, and translational studies. Over the past five years, he has published 26 SCI-indexed research articles as first or corresponding author (including co-authorship) in high-impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Advanced Science, and British Journal of Anaesthesia, with a cumulative impact factor exceeding 170. He has also served as chief editor or contributing editor for over ten textbooks and academic books. In 2019, he received the First Prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award as the second contributor. In 2025, he was awarded the First Prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award again as the third contributor.

Jie Fan, a professor of Surgery and Immunology of University of Pittsburgh, dedicated to the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation, trauma, and multiorgan failure, etc. Fan undertakes a number of federally funded research projects in the United States. He is also a member of the editorial board or a contributing reviewer of 48 American and European academic journals, including Nature and Nature Medicine.

Dr. Guo graduated from the Fourth Military Medical University (Xi'an) in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in clinical medicine. In 2019, he graduated from Air Force Medical University (Xi'an) with a master's degree in anesthesiology. He completed his doctorate in anesthesiology at the PLA Medical school (Beijing) in 2024. Currently, he serves as a deputy chief physician in the Department of Anesthesiology at the First Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army.

His research focus lies in neural circuit research on the mechanism of general anesthesia. He has hosted the Youth Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has published 13 papers as the first or corresponding author, with 9 of them being SCI papers. Among these SCI papers, 7 have an impact factor of over 5 and 1 has an impact factor of over 10. He has also participated in the second - phase project of the "Exploration Plan" for basic neuroscience research.

Dr. Thomas G. Hedberg is an experienced neuroscientist and neurologist with over 20 years in clinical, clinical pharmacology, and nonclinical regulatory writing/management. He specializes in therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, CNS disorders, infectious diseases, dermatology, gastroenterology, and women's health.

Dr. Hedberg has a strong background in administrative organization, project management, and planning within the pharmaceutical industry. He has been a medical writing department head, managing teams during IND submissions and publication planning.

Dr. Hedberg's academic and medical experience includes a visiting professorship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where his research has focused on botulinum neurotoxins for treating intractable epilepsies. He has also published numerous scientific and medical papers across various neurological fields.

Seyed Mehdi Hoseini is a member of the research board at the Biotechnology Research Center at the Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute and the Blood and Oncology Research Center, both affiliated with Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services in Yazd, Iran. He is also a contributing reviewer for the International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM; Pubmed/ISI indexed) and the Iranian Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (IJPHO; ISI indexed). Dr. Hoseini has published more than 30 SCI papers as the first or corresponding author, focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying immune-related reproductive disorders and inflammatory diseases, as well as the immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), specifically fetal MSCs. His clinical expertise lies in medical genetics, particularly cytogenetic approaches including conventional karyotype and FISH techniques, as well as data analysis of whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing. Since 2014, he has been the director of the Yazd Genome Laboratory at the Khatam Al-Anbia Super Specialty Clinic and the supervisor of the Cytogenetic Laboratory at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital (a referral/public hospital) since 2021.

Mayura Iddagoda is a dual trained Physician (Geriatric and Internal medicine), currently working in Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia as a Perioperative specialist. His clinical expertise is in the fields of Internal medicine, Geriatrics and Perioperative medicine. He is the author of several international peer reviewed publications and is continuing further research in the filed of perioperative medicine. He completed a master’s degree in perioperative medicine and awarded diploma for perioperative medicine from Australia New Zealand College of Anaesthetics (ANZCA). He is completing his doctoral degree in Perioperative Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of Western Australia.

Dr. Jonathan Pan is an Associate Professor and board-certified anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at University of California, San Francisco. Besides clinical anesthesia practice, Dr. Pan is also a physician scientist and is interested in basic science and clinical research of neurotrauma. His research mainly focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury after neurotrauma and search for neuroprotective and regenerative therapies. His clinical study investigates the impact of acute care on neurotrauma patients. He is associate editor and serves on editorial board in multiple journals, such as Frontier in Neurology. He has published more than 40 research articles and book chapters. Dr. Pan’s current research is funded by U.S. Federal Government and Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research.

Cai Li, Associate Chief Physician at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, holds a Ph.D. in Anesthesiology from Sun Yat-sen University and serves as a master's supervisor. She graduated from the seven-year clinical medicine program at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her clinical expertise includes ultrasound-guided closure of atrial and ventricular septal defects, anesthesia for cardiac and major vascular surgeries, and anesthesia for pediatric and critically ill patients. From 2014 to 2015, she received clinical research training at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Li has led one NSFC project and three provincial-level projects and has published seven SCI-indexed papers as first or corresponding author. She has received multiple awards, including the national championship in the 2011 TCI Competition for Intravenous Anesthesia and top prizes at the National Young Anesthesiologists Academic Forum. She currently serves as Deputy Chair of the 10th Youth Committee of the Anesthesiology Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association.

Dr. Leng is a Professor of Anesthesiology at The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, China, with a PhD and extensive expertise in perioperative medicine and pharmacological research. She has led three National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects and multiple provincial-level grants, publishing nearly 200 papers in SCI/CSCD journals such as Biochemical Pharmacology, Cell Biology and Toxicology, and Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology. An active academic leader, she serves as a Standing Committee Member of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association's Anesthesiology Branch and chairs the Gansu Provincial Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Committees. Additionally, she holds editorial roles in several key journals, including Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology and Journal of Clinical Anesthesiology. With a strong mentorship record (28 PhD and 94 MSc graduates), she combines clinical, research, and editorial contributions to advance anesthesiology.

Valery Piacherski, MD, PhD, is a senior anesthesiologist and researcher specializing in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and critical care. With over 1,962 nerve blocks performed in research settings, he has developed minimal effective dose protocols and patented innovative nerve block techniques. His work has been cited in French anesthesiology guidelines and includes 18 English and 43 Russian publications.

As Associate Editor of the European Journal of Medical Research, he contributes to advancing medical research. He was also part of a working group that participated in developing national anesthesia protocols in Belarus and played a key role in expanding ICU capacity during COVID-19.

He bridges clinical innovation with academic rigor to advance safer regional anesthesia standards worldwide.

Prof. Min, M.D. is a distinguished anesthesiologist, professor, and doctoral supervisor at Chongqing Medical University. With over 40 years of experience, she specializes in perioperative critical care, pain management, and cardiovascular anesthesia. She has led 4 NSFC projects and published 300+ papers (86 SCI). A pioneer in Chongqing’s anesthesiology field, she holds editorial roles in Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology and other core journals, and serves in key national committees, including the Chinese Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology.

Professor Peng graduated from Xi'an Medical University in 1985 and later pursued advanced studies in the U.S., earning his Ph.D. in Medical Science from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his residency at the University of Florida College of Medicine and a fellowship in Cardiac Anesthesiology at Emory University. Since 2009, he has served as a tenured Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery at the University of Florida, where he directs the Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship Program and the Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) division. Recognized for his excellence in teaching and clinical practice, he has been honored as "Best Teacher in Anesthesiology" multiple times and listed among "Best Doctors in America" (2006–2014). In 2013, he was elected Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE). As an active leader in his field, Professor Peng holds memberships in several prestigious medical societies, serves on editorial boards for leading anesthesiology journals, and acts as Overseas Chief Advisor for China’s TEE Collaborative Group. His distinguished career reflects his expertise in cardiac anesthesia and echocardiography, as well as his commitment to advancing medical education and research.

Professor Sun Yongtao is a distinguished chief physician, postgraduate tutor, and former visiting scholar at UC San Francisco. He holds leadership roles in multiple medical associations, including President-elect of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Branch of Shandong Provincial Research Hospital Association. With over 11 SCI publications (highest IF=12.5), patents, and awards in anesthesia and perioperative research, he is a key figure in clinical and academic advancements in his field.

Dr. Wang, Associate Professor, is a distinguished anesthesiologist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), specializing in critical care and pain management. After graduating from Norman Bethune Medical University (1985), he completed residency and earned his doctorate at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. He pursued postdoctoral training at SUNY (1995) and joined MGH in 2006, where he led clinical research in perioperative pain, obstetric anesthesia, and endoscopic sedation. As a renowned educator, he developed simulation-based airway management courses, received four consecutive "Excellence in Teaching" awards, and served as Director of Anesthesia Education for Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Chair of the Reproductive Anesthesia Group. As an active Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA), he holds leadership roles in CASA and SCAPE, and has contributed to ASA’s literature review committees. With over 100 peer-reviewed SCI publications in top journals (Anesthesiology, British Journal of Anaesthesia, etc.), he also serves as editor/reviewer for multiple medical journals. Committed to global education, he mentors young anesthesiologists in China as a visiting professor at leading universities. His career exemplifies excellence in clinical innovation, academic leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Prof. Wang, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of Anesthesiology at The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China. A leading expert in anesthesia for elderly and critically ill patients, she has led 3 National Natural Science Foundation projects, published 160+ papers, and received 3 provincial science awards. Recognized with China’s State Council Special Allowance, she serves on editorial boards of key anesthesiology journals and holds leadership roles in national medical societies, including the Chinese Society of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Xia, a Medical Doctor, Professor, Senior Attending Physician, and PhD supervisor, currently serves as the Director of the Department of Anesthesiology/Pain Management at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Dr. Xia is a leading talent in medicine in Hubei Province and an expert receiving the special government allowances of the State Council. He has chaired seven projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Dr. Xia has published or co-authored over 10 academic books and holds dozens of patents. He has published nearly 300 papers as the first author or corresponding author, including almost 100 SCI papers in prestigious international journals such as Advanced Science, Cell Death Dis, Cell Commun Signal, J Am Heart Assoc, EClinicalMedicine, Free Radic Biol Med, Crit Care Med, and more. He was selected as one of the World's Top 2% Scientists 2024. Dr. Xia has significant expertise in the fields of diabetic myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and perioperative organ protection.

Dr. Xu is a Professor of Anesthesiology, Chief Physician, and PhD supervisor. He currently serves as the Director of the Anesthesia Quality Control Center of Jiangxi Province and the Director of the Key Anesthesia Laboratory of Jiangxi Province. With over 40 years of experience in clinical anesthesiology, teaching, and research, Dr. Xu has rich practical experience and excellent medical skills. He specializes in anesthesia for liver transplantation, cardiovascular and elderly critical surgeries, pain management, and ICU monitoring and treatment for critically ill patients. Dr. Xu's main research interests include perioperative anesthesia, cardiac and brain organ protection, blood preservation, and the prevention and treatment of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. In recent years, Dr. Xu has published 33 SCI papers (with the highest Impact Factor of 19.2) and nearly 50 papers in core journals as the corresponding author. He has been granted 10 national patents and co-authored 5 academic books. Dr. Xu has led and participated in more than 20 national and provincial-level research projects, including 5 funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Jianhua Xia, Chief Physician, serves as the Director of the Department of Anesthesiology at Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital. He graduated from the Department of Anesthesiology at Xuzhou Medical University and has 30 years of clinical anesthesia experience, with extensive expertise in anesthesia management for elderly patients and critically injured trauma patients. In recent years, he has actively promoted the application of ultrasound technology in the perioperative period. His research primarily focuses on perioperative neuronal and pulmonary protection.

Dr. Li fang Yang has been highly recognized in the academic and medical fields. She has received awards such as the Outstanding Young Scientist Fund of Shaanxi Provincial Basic Research Plan and the Leading Talent (Innovative Talent) of Xi'an Talent Plan. From 2003 to 2023, she has accumulated rich experience in peri - operative anesthesia for complex and severe infant surgeries, especially in emergency airway management.

 

Her research focuses on the clinical and basic translational research of pediatric clinical anesthesia and myocardial protection, achieving notable results in improving myocardial ischemia - reperfusion injury with electroacupuncture and in the application of anesthesia and 3D printing technology.

 

She has published 32 SCI papers, including in prestigious journals like JACC (IF = 15.343) and Eur Heart J (IF = 10.046), as well as 8 Chinese core - journal papers, either as the first or corresponding author. She has presided over 3 National Natural Science Foundation projects and several provincial and municipal scientific research projects. Additionally, she has been involved in translating and compiling many academic works and holds 6 invention patents and 3 utility model patents.

Yuan specializes in mechanisms of chronic pain, sleep-pain comorbidity and precision anesthesia and perioperative management. She has actively participated in international collaboration and exchange (Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University and the University of Florida, USA; Clinical Training at Imperial College London, UK) and was invited to deliver lectures at multiple international academic conferences. Yuan has published over 50 SCI papers in high-impact journals such as Pain and J Clin Anesth, and Awarded multiple honors, including the Science and Technology Progress Award of Henan Province. Currently, she serves as youth member of the Anesthetic Pharmacology Branch, Chinese Pharmacological Society; Youth Editorial Board Member of Journal of International Anesthesiology and Resuscitation; and Journal of Zhengzhou University (Medical Edition).

Dr. Zhang has been engaged in anesthesia for maxillofacial surgeries and the promotion of comfortable dental treatments for a long time and holds a certificate in dental sedation and analgesia from the United States. She introduced the operating room emergency manual, which has become a standard in domestic operating rooms and has transformed emergency protocols in China. Dr. Zhang's research focuses on the basic and clinical studies of the effects of anesthetic drugs on neurodevelopment in children. As the first author or corresponding author, she has published more than 30 SCI papers. She has undertaken 5 general projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 1 major national science and technology project on military special medicines. Dr. Zhang currently serves as the Executive Editor of Perioperative Safety and Quality Assuranc and is a standing editorial board member of Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology.

Zhang specializes in metabolic instability in perioperative brain health. He has chaired 4 National Natural Science Foundation projects on perioperative brain health and has been awarded the First-Class Science and Technology Progress Award from Shanghai and the First-Class Teaching Achievement Award from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Currently, he serves as Executive Committee Member of the Perioperative Basic and Translational Medicine Branch, Chinese Society of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia; Member of the Anesthesia Committee, Chinese Research Hospital Association; Chairperson of the Anesthesia and Brain Function Branch, Shandong Neuroscience Society; Director of the Anesthesia and Brain Function Key Laboratory, Shandong Medical and Health Institute; Academic Editor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Science, etc. 

Zhao has chaired over 10 Foundation projects and has published more than 50 SCI and core journal articles as the first author or corresponding author. He is the principal writer of the "Top Ten Scientific Issues in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (2025 edition)" as well as the author of 2 expert consensus documents. He holds 4 invention patents, serves as the chief translator of one book, the deputy chief translator of another, and has contributed to 21 books. He was awarded the "Shuren Anesthesiologist Award" from the Beijing Medical Association and the 2024 Outstanding Contribution in Anesthesiology Youth Award from the Anesthesiology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.

Currently, he serves as Vice Leader of the Youth Group, Anesthesiology Branch, Chinese Medical Association; Vice Chair and Leader of the Ultrasound Working Group, Anesthesiology Branch, Beijing Medical Association; Review Expert for Capital Health Development Scientific Research Special Project; Youth Editorial Board Member of Clinical Anesthesiology Journal; Youth Editorial Board Member of Journal of International Anesthesiology and Resuscitation; Editorial Board Member of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Science, etc.

Yang Zhang is the Director of Anesthesiology Department of Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital. Zhang has rich experience in anesthesia for the elderly and critically ill patients, who is especially good at managing difficult airway and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. Zhang graduated from Tianjin Medical University and has studied in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin Children's Hospital and other hospitals. The research directions of Zhang are as follows: organ protection of sepsis, difficult airway management, the influence of anesthetic drugs on tumor and other related directions, etc.

Dr. Zhou is a distinguished anesthesiologist and Deputy Chief Physician at Henan Provincial Chest Hospital, specializing in cardiothoracic anesthesia for complex procedures such as TAVR, hybrid surgeries, and minimally invasive interventions. With an MD from Fujian Medical University and advanced training at Fuwai Hospital, he has published 23 peer-reviewed papers, led provincial-level research projects, and holds patents in his field. Recognized with multiple awards including the Henan Medical Science Progress Prize and his hospital’s 'Top 10 Outstanding Youths' honor, Dr. Zhou actively contributes to academic societies while advancing perioperative care through innovation. His expertise spans clinical anesthesia, organ protection research, and multidisciplinary team leadership, underscored by a commitment to patient safety and medical education.

Director of China UK Medical Exchange Programme

Seyed Amirhossein Mazhari is a Research Assistant at Azerbaijan Medical University with a focus on diverse medical fields such as Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, and Molecular Biology. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine (MD) and has made significant contributions as a reviewer for multiple scientific journals, reflecting his expertise and active engagement in the research community.

Mazhari's research interests span across a broad spectrum, including Endocrine, Dermatology, Genetics, Immunology, and Cell Signaling, with a particular emphasis on improving patient care and advancing medical treatments. His dedication to medical research is demonstrated through his active involvement in publishing scholarly articles and participating in peer review activities.