Dr. Dai Ji focuses on exploring the neural foundations and regulatory mechanisms underlying advanced cognitive functions in the brain, as well as developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches utilizing non-human primate models. In recent years, his research has garnered significant attention, resulting in publications in prestigious academic journals including Cell, Nature, Innovation, Advanced Science, and National Science Review. His contributions to the field have earned him accolades such as "Top 10 Advances in Chinese Life Sciences" and "Major Advances in Chinese Neuroscience" for 2023. Furthermore, he has been featured multiple times in prominent national media outlets, including People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, and China Youth Daily. In recognition of his achievements, he has been elected as a member of the "Youth Innovation Promotion Association" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as receiving designations as "Overseas High-Level Talents" and "Pengcheng Excellent Talents".

The neural foundations and regulatory mechanisms underlying advanced cognitive functions in primates.

1.    Yefei Chen#, Zexuan Hong#, Jingyi Wang, Kunlin Liu, Jing Liu, Jianbang Lin, Shijing Feng, Tianhui Zhang, Liang Shan, Taian Liu, Pinyue Guo, Yunping Lin, Tian Li, Qian Chen, Xiaodan Jiang, Anan Li, Xiang Li, Yuantao Li, Jonathan Wilde, Jin Bao*, Ji Dai*, and Zhonghua Lu*. “Circuit-Specific Gene Therapy Reverses Core Symptoms in a Primate Parkinson's Disease Model”, Cell, 2023, 186 (24): 5394-5410.e18. Doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.004.
2.    Li Wang#, Bo Zhang#, Xiqian Lu, Ruidi Wang, Jian Ma, Yujie Chen, Yuan Zhou, Ji Dai*, Yi Jiang*. “Genetic and Neuronal Basis for Facial Emotion Perception in Humans and Macaques”, National Science Review, 2024 11(11), nwae381. Doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae381.
3.    Zhiting Zhang#, Liang Shan#, Yuyin Wang#, Wenfang Li, Minqing Jiang, Feng Liang, Shijing Feng, Zhonghua Lu, Hong Wang*, Ji Dai*. “Primate Preoptic Neurons Drive Hypothermia and Cold Defense”. The Innovation, 2023, 4:100358. Doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100358.
4.    Liang Shan#,*, Hui Huang#, Zhiting Zhang, Yuyin Wang, Fei Gu, Mingwei Lu, Wen Zhou, Yi Jiang*, Ji Dai*, “Mapping the Emergence of Visual Consciousness in the Human Brain via Brain-wide Intracranial Electrophysiology”, The Innovation, 2022, 3:100243. Doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100243.
5.    Xinhe Liu, Zhiting Zhang, Lu Gan, Panke Yu, Ji Dai*. “Medium Spiny Neurons Mediate Timing Perception in Coordination with Prefrontal Neurons in Primates”, Advanced Science, 2025, 12(16):e2412963. Doi: 10.1002/advs.202412963.

1.    Top 10 Advances in Life Sciences of China, 2024
2.    Top 10 events in Shenzhen's Technological Innovation, 2024
3.    Top 6 Major Advances in Chinese Neuroscience, 2023
4.    Pengcheng Excellent Talents, 2022
5.    Pilot Talents of Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 2018
6.    Overseas High-Level Talents, Shenzhen, 2018
7.    Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017