Yutong Xiao

Yutong Xiao is a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), conducting cutting-edge research in molecular neuroscience and neural development.

Her research focuses on:

• Mechanisms of synaptogenesis
• Activity-dependent gene regulation
• Transcriptional programs in neural circuit formation
• Molecular pathways of synapse assembly

Her 2024 Nature Neuroscience publication demonstrates how neural activity directly triggers transcriptional programs that drive synapse formation, revealing fundamental mechanisms linking neuronal signaling to structural plasticity. This work establishes critical connections between electrical activity, gene expression, and synaptic development with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders.