Chief Physician, Peking University Sixth Hospital (Sixth Hospital)
Dr. Xin Yu is a distinguished Professor and Chief Physician at Peking University Sixth Hospital, specializing in geriatric psychiatry. He serves as the Director of the Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment and holds prominent leadership roles, including Vice President of the Chinese Association for Alzheimer’s Disease, Vice President of the Chinese Geriatrics Society, and President of its Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Mental Health. As the Founding President of the Chinese Psychiatrists Association and Dean of the School of Psychiatry at Wenzhou Medical University, Dr. Yu has significantly shaped psychiatric education and practice in China. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese Journal of Psychiatry and Director of the WHO/Beijing Collaborating Center for Mental Health Research and Training, bridging national and global mental health initiatives.
Education & Professional Training
- Humphrey Fellowship in Substance Dependence & Public Health
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA (1998 to 1999)
- PhD in Clinical Psychiatry, Peking University, China (2000)
- IPA/Pfizer Research Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry
- University of Melbourne - Aging Mental Health Centre, Australia (1996 to 1997)
- M.D. (Bachelor of Medicine), Beijing Medical University, China (1988)
Dr. Yu’s research spans early intervention strategies for geriatric neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia, psychosis, depression, and schizophrenia. He has pioneered studies on neurocognitive impairment in HIV/AIDS and substance dependence (alcohol/drug addiction), integrating clinical and translational approaches to improve diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks. His work emphasizes the development of evidence-based guidelines and innovative tools, such as the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Chinese Urban Norms for ages 18-59, which standardized cognitive assessments nationwide.
Besides, Dr Yu has led over 20 national and international research projects, including the National Key Basic Research Program (973 Project), National High-Tech R&D Program (863 Plan), and collaborations with the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). His landmark achievements include the invention of the “PAD-Based Cognitive Test Construction Method” (awarded a national patent) and the publication of 18 academic books, such as Geriatric Psychiatry (Editor-in-Chief) and China’s inaugural Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (Co-Editor). With 200+ peer-reviewed papers in journals like American Journal of Psychiatry, he has advanced global understanding of dementia and psychiatric care.