X. William Yang

Dr. X. William Yang is Professor-in-Residence in Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He co-invented BAC transgenic mouse technology and developed models for Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s diseases. His research focuses on neurodegenerative mechanisms, brain gene networks, and therapeutic development.

• Yale University: B.S. & M.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry (1991)
• Rockefeller University: Ph.D. in Neuroscience & Molecular Genetics (1998)
• Weill Medical College of Cornell: M.D. (2000)

His research integrates mouse genetics, systems biology, and transcriptomics to study neurodegenerative diseases. Key areas include striatal circuitry, mitochondrial toxicity, and DNA methylation networks. Recent work applies light sheet imaging and single neuron labeling to map brain morphology and identify therapeutic targets.

His 15 most recent articles reveal trends in neurodegenerative disease (2025: 2), mouse genetics (2024: 2), and epigenetics of aging (2024: 1). Collaborative studies span neuroimmunology and RNA biology in disease contexts.

• Scientific Awards: Terry Semel Chair (2019), Leslie Gehry Brenner Prize (2014), McKnight Neuroscience Award (2009-2012)
• Grants: NIH BRAIN Initiative (RF1MH128888), CHDI Foundation collaboration (2013-2025)

Dr. Yang leads the X. William Yang Research Group at UCLA, contributing to the mouse cortico-basal ganglia atlas and inventing MORF mice for sparse neuronal labeling.