长期从事非人灵长类神经生物学的研究，目前主要研究方向集中在中枢系统重大疾病猕猴模型的构建和机理研究。过去成功构建了一种人类早期逆境，两种新型帕金森氏病（PD），两种新型阿兹海默（AD）和三种抑郁症的新型猕猴模型。近期，又首次发现了自然产生的PD和AD猕猴模型，成功的建立了病毒原位转基因PD、AD以及自闭症猕猴模型。另外还成功研制了国内外第一台具有实用价值的电刺激噪声干扰压制器，首次将电刺激和单位放电记录这两项重要的神经电生理研究技术有机的结合起来，形成了一个研究脑内回路的新型有力工具，是神经电生理研究方法学上的一个重要突破（专利号：ZL200710031057.8）。

Li ML#, Wu SH#, Zhang JJ, Tian HY, Shao Y, Wang ZB, Irwin DM, Li JL, Hu XT*, Wu DD* (2019). 547 transcriptomes from 44 brain areas reveal features of the aging brain in non-human primates. Genome biology, 20(1), 1-17. 

Dongdong Qin*, Zhifei Li, Zhaoxia Li, Limin Wang, Zhengfei Hu, Longbao Lü, Zhengbo Wang, Yun Liu, Yong Yin*, Zhaofu Li* and Xintian Hu*(2019). Chronic glucocorticoid exposure induces depression-like phenotype in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Frontiers in neuroscience, 13: 188. 

Zhai R, Rizak J, Zheng N, He X, Li Z, Yin Y, Su T, He Y, He R, Ma Y, Yang M, Wang Z, Hu X*(2018). Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathologies and Cognitive Impairments Induced by Formaldehyde in Nonhuman Primates. Current Alzheimer research. 15(14):1304-1321 

Baihui Huang, Shihao Wu, Zhengbo Wang, Longjiao Ge, Joshua D.Rizak, Jing Wu, Jiali Li,Lin Xu, Longbao Lv*, Yong Yin*, Xintian Hu*, Hao Li*(2018). Phosphorylated α-Synuclein Accumulations and Lewy Body-like Pathology Distributed in Parkinson’s Disease-Related Brain Areas of Aged Rhesus Monkeys Treated with MPTP. Neuroscience, 379:302-315  

Jing-kuan Wei#, Wen-chao Wang#, Rong-wei Zhai#, Yu-hua Zhang, Shang-chuan Yang, Joshua Rizak, Ling Li, Li-qi Xu, Li Liu, Ming-ke Pan, Ying-zhou Hu, Abdelaziz Ghanemi, Jing Wu, Li-chuan Yang, Hao Li, Long-bao Lv, Jia-li Li, Yong-gang Yao, Lin Xu, Xiao-li Feng, Yong Yin, Dong-dong Qin, Xin-tian Hu*, Zheng-bo Wang*(2016). Neurons Differentiated from Transplanted Stem Cells Respond Functionally to Acoustic Stimuli in the Awake Monkey Brain. Cell reports, 1016–1025. 

Zhi-yi Zhang, Yu Mao, Xiao-li Feng, Na Zheng, Long-bao Lü, Yuan-ye Ma Dong-dong Qin*, Xin-tian Hu*(2016). Early adversity contributes to chronic stress induced depression-like behavior in adolescent male rhesus monkeys, Behavioural Brain Research, 306 154–159 

Li H, Lei X, Yan T, Li H, Huang B, Li L, Xu L, Liu L, Chen N, Lü L, Ma Y, Xu L, Li J, Wang Z, Zhang B, Hu X*(2015). The temporary and accumulated effects of transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease monkeys. Sci Rep. 5:12178. doi: 10.1038/srep12178 

Qin D, Chu X, Feng X, Li Z, Yang S, Lü L, Yang Q, Pan L, Yin Y, Li J, Xu L, Chen L, Hu X*(2015). The first observation of seasonal affective disorder symptoms in rhesus macaque. Behav Brain Res. 292:463-9  

Qin D, Rizak J, Chu X, Li Z, Yang S, Lü L, Yang L, Yang Q, Yang B, Pan L, Yin Y, Chen L, Feng X, Hu X*(2015). A spontaneous depressive pattern in adult female rhesus macaques. Sci Rep. 5:11267. doi: 10.1038/srep11267. 

Li H, Lei X, Huang B, Rizak JD, Yang L, Yang S, Wu J, Lü L, Wang J, Yan T, Li H, Wang Z, Hu Y, Le W, Deng X, Li J, Xu L, Zhang B, Hu X*(2015). A quantitative approach to developing Parkinsonian monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) with intracerebroventricular 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium injections. J Neurosci Methods. 251:99-107.  

Rizak, JD., Ma, YY., Hu, XT*(2014). Is formaldehyde the missing link in AD pathology? The differential aggregation of Amyloid-beta with APOE isoforms in vitro. Curr Alzheimer Res. 11(5):461-8. 

Meifeng Yang, Jing Lu, Junye Miao, Joshua Rizak, Jianzhen Yang, Rongwei Zhai, Jun Zhou, Jiagui Qu, Jianhong Wang, Yuanye Ma, Xintian Hu*, Rongqiao He*(2014). Alzheimer’s Disease and Methanol Toxicity (Pt.1): Chronic methanol feeding led to memory impairments, tau hyperphosphorylation in mice. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease. 2014;41(4):1117-29 

Meifeng Yang, Junye Miao, Joshua Rizak, Rongwei Zhai, Zhengbo Wang, Tanzeel Huma Anwar, Ting Li, Na Zheng, Shihao Wu, Yingwei Zheng, Xiaona Fan, Jianzhen Yang, Jianhong Wang, Yuanye Ma, Longbao Lü, Rongqiao He*, Xintian Hu*(2014). Alzheimer’s Disease and Methanol Toxicity (Pt.2): Lessons from four rhesus macaques (macaca mulatta) chronically fed methanol. J Alzheimers Dis. 41(4):1131-47. 

Feng XL, Wang LN, Yang SC, Qin DD, Wang JH, Li CL, Lv LB, Ma YY, Hu XT*(2011). Maternal separation produces lasting changes in cortisol and behavior in rhesus monkeys. PNAS, 23; 108(34): 14312-7.  

Wu J, Wang WC, Li L, Liu L, Wang GM, Tan HG, Jiang HH, Wang JH, Ma YY, Hu XT*(2010). A new MRI approach for accurately implanting microelectrodes into deep brain structures of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 193: 203–209.  

Hu X*, Jiang H, Gu C, Li C, Sparks DL*(2007). Reliability of oculomotor command signals carried by individual neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104(19):8137-42.