Xiangrong Shi

Xiangrong Shi, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). She is affiliated with the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences and the Institute for Healthy Aging. Her research focuses on applying intermittent hypoxia (IH) as a therapeutic intervention to improve cardiovascular and neurological health in aging populations, particularly those with cognitive impairments.

Shi holds a BA in Physical Education from Shanghai Teachers University, an MA in Exercise Science from Shanghai Institute of Physical Education, and a PhD in Physiology from Yale University. Her work integrates physiological adaptations to hypoxia with clinical applications for aging-related conditions.

Her research interests include IH-induced neuroprotection, cardiovascular responses to hypoxia, and translational therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. Key projects include studies on IH’s impact on oxygen delivery, baroreflex sensitivity, and cognitive function in older adults. Collaborations involve multi-institutional teams investigating IH’s effects on mild cognitive impairment and cardiovascular resilience.

Shi has secured grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Texas A&M Health Science Center, and UNTHSC intramural programs. Her funded projects (7 total) span IH’s therapeutic potential for cognitive decline, cardiovascular adaptations, and novel intervention development.

Her lab emphasizes translational research bridging basic physiological mechanisms to clinical applications, with a focus on non-traditional exercise modalities for elderly populations. Future directions include expanding IH protocols for neurovascular health optimization and exploring biomarkers of IH-induced neuroplasticity.