CELLULAR SENESCENCE · NEURAL REGENERATION

Cellular senescence as a lens on neural regeneration.

YaoLab studies how aging-like cell states shape the microenvironment after neural injury—and how their signals might be redirected toward structural and functional repair.

At the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, we connect questions from clinical neural injury with the biology of cell fate, tissue remodeling, and regeneration.

Explore the research →Collaborate with us →

REGENERATIVE NICHE · CONCEPT MAPHEFEI / CN

Senescent state Secretory signal Neural response

OUR PREMISE

Senescence is not simply the end of a cell’s life cycle.Within an injured nervous system, it is a dynamic and potentially actionable state.

Follow experience.
Create experience.

RESEARCH

Three connected lines of inquiry

Under the theme of aging and regeneration, our work connects disease mechanisms, precise intervention, and tissue-level repair.

CNS injury & aging

We investigate pathological mechanisms shared by central nervous system injury and aging, using multidimensional information to decode conditions including spinal cord injury and Alzheimer’s disease.

SPINAL CORD INJURY · ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE · SYSTEMS MAPPING

Senescence targets & intervention

We characterize actionable senescence targets and develop precise interventions grounded in cell therapy and gene-editing technologies—from early warning to delaying aging.

CELL THERAPY · GENE EDITING · PRECISION INTERVENTION

Microenvironment remodeling & regeneration

We examine fibrosis, inflammation, and other pathological changes induced by senescence, then remodel the aging microenvironment across multiple levels to restore tissue homeostasis and regeneration.

FIBROSIS · INFLAMMATION · TISSUE HOMEOSTASIS

QUESTIONS THAT GUIDE US

From an injured niche to a regenerative one.

We use each question to connect clinical relevance with experimentally resolvable biology.

01Identity

Which senescent cell populations determine regenerative outcomes?

02Timing

When does senescence shift from a repair signal to a chronic barrier?

03Mechanism

How do vascular, immune, and glial signals converge on neural recovery?

04Translation

Can we intervene precisely without disrupting beneficial healing?

PUBLICATIONS

Selected research

Peer-reviewed work spanning cellular senescence, neuroinflammation, microglial biology, neurovascular remodeling, and spinal cord regeneration.

Fei Yao’s contribution is noted for each article.

2025

Co-first authorPubMed

Dynamic phosphorylation of Fascin-1 orchestrates microglial phagocytosis and neurological recovery after spinal cord injury

Yanchang Liu, Fei Yao, Ziyu Li, Yan Jiang, Jianjian Li, Shuisheng Yu, Xuyang Hu, Fangru Ouyang, Meige Zheng, Li Cheng, and Juehua Jing

Journal of Neuroinflammation 22, 121 (2025)

2024

Co-corresponding authorPubMed

Galectin-3 inhibition reduces fibrotic scarring and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice

Fangli Shan, Jianan Ye, Xinzhong Xu, Chao Liang, Yuanzhe Zhao, Jingwen Wang, Fangru Ouyang, Jianjian Li, Jianwei Lv, Zhonghan Wu, Fei Yao, Juehua Jing, and Meige Zheng

Cell & Bioscience 14, 128 (2024)

Co-corresponding authorPubMed

Fascin-1 limits myosin activity in microglia to control mechanical characterization of the injured spinal cord

Jinxin Huang, Xuyang Hu, Zeqiang Chen, Fangru Ouyang, Jianjian Li, Yixue Hu, Yuanzhe Zhao, Jingwen Wang, Fei Yao, Juehua Jing, and Li Cheng

Journal of Neuroinflammation 21, 88 (2024)

2023

Co-first authorPubMed

Myelin debris impairs tight junctions and promotes the migration of microvascular endothelial cells in the injured spinal cord

Fei Yao, Yang Luo, Yihao Chen, Yiteng Li, Xuyang Hu, Xingyu You, Ziyu Li, Shuisheng Yu, Dasheng Tian, Meige Zheng, Li Cheng, and Juehua Jing

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 43, 741–756 (2023)

2022

Co-first authorPubMed

Imatinib inhibits pericyte-fibroblast transition and inflammation and promotes axon regeneration by blocking the PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ pathway in spinal cord injury

Fei Yao, Yang Luo, Yan-Chang Liu, Yi-Hao Chen, Yi-Teng Li, Xu-Yang Hu, Xing-Yu You, Shui-Sheng Yu, Zi-Yu Li, Lei Chen, Da-Sheng Tian, Mei-Ge Zheng, Li Cheng, and Jue-Hua Jing

Inflammation and Regeneration 42, 44 (2022)

PEOPLE

A clinical question, a collaborative lab.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Fei Yao

MD, PhD · Master’s Supervisor · Attending Physician

The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University

姚飞 · 安徽医科大学 · 安徽医科大学第二附属医院

fy@@@fy.ahmu.edu.cnfeiyao@@@ustc.edu.cn

Fei Yao studies aging and regeneration, with a focus on central nervous system injury, senescence-targeted intervention, and remodeling the aging tissue microenvironment. The lab seeks precise regenerative strategies for spinal cord injury, neurodegeneration, fibrosis, and inflammation.

Training: MD, Anhui Medical University, 2016–2019PhD, Institute of Orthopaedics, Anhui Medical University, 2019–2022
Postdoctoral: Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Science and Technology of China, 2023–2026 · Postdoctoral co-supervisors: Juehua Jing and Yong Shen
Teaching: Master’s Supervisor, Anhui Medical University, since 2024
Funding: NSFC Young Scientists Fund · Principal InvestigatorNSFC General Program · ParticipantAnhui Provincial Postdoctoral Research Project · Principal InvestigatorKey Natural Science Project of Anhui Provincial Department of Education · Principal Investigator