Xia Li

Xia Li, MD, PhD, China

I am a Chief Physician and Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Department at Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, with over 30 years of dedicated service in the field of psychiatry, particularly in geriatric mental health. I hold a Ph.D. and MD in Psychiatry and Mental Health from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and has enriched the expertise through international training, including fellowships in Australia and the United States, and a postdoctoral research position at Mayo Clinic’s Neuroscience Institute. I have led numerous national and municipal research projects, including major initiatives funded by the National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

My research focuses on the interplay between psychological, sleep, and cognitive functions in aging, mechanisms underlying late-life depression and Alzheimer’s disease, and community-based interventions for cognitive disorders. I have also played a key role in several multicenter clinical trials investigating new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. An accomplished author, I have published extensively in journals and has edited books on cognitive impairment in the elderly. I am a recipient of multiple awards recognizing her contributions to public science education, medical innovation, and clinical service, including the Shanghai Outstanding Science Communication Personality Award and the Shanghai Science Popularization Award. I am actively involved in professional organizations, serving as a committee member of the Chinese Psychiatric Association and holding leadership roles in geriatric and cognitive disorder societies. My work continues to bridge clinical practice, scientific research, and public education to improve mental health care for older adults.