Dr. Zhou is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at Central South University, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for the Discovery and Translation of Small Molecule Drugs for Chronic Disease Treatment, and the Chief Scientific Officer at Geneham Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. He graduated from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University with a specialization in medicinal chemistry. 
Over the years, Dr. Zhou has focused on the metabolic chemistry of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and the development of new drugs. His research emphasizes the chemical composition of natural medicines, structural modifications, structure-activity relationships, and new drug development. He has developed several new drugs derived from traditional Chinese medicine, with results including three new drug candidates from five categories, three ongoing vertical research projects, and multiple horizontal projects. 
Dr. Zhou holds 15 authorized patents and has filed over 30 invention patent applications. He has also edited and contributed to three textbooks and has published more than 50 papers in core journals both domestically and internationally.
Research projects:
①Innovation, research and industrialization of key technologies of traditional Chinese medicine - research and development of new varieties and key technologies of traditional Chinese medicine, major projects of Changsha Science and Technology Plan, project number K1204004-31-1
②Research and development of a new class of anti-cerebral ischemia drug CA, Changsha Science and Technology Plan, project number K1203041-31
③Study on the drugability of VBE-6, a novel dual-pathway regulator based on PI3K/Akt/mTOR and JNK pathways, key project of Central South University Frontier Research Program
④ Preclinical study of EVn50, a modern Chinese medicine for breast cancer based on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, National Science and Technology Major Project-Major New Drug Creation, Project Leader, Project Number 2009ZX09102-109.
⑤ Development of mulberry leaf extract and its preparations, National Science and Technology Major Project-Major New Drug Creation, Project Main Participant, Project Number 2009ZX09102-110.
⑥ Research on EVn-50, a novel breast cancer treatment drug based on the Akt-mTOR pathway, Project Leader, Project Number 2008SK2005.
⑦ Experimental study of unknown impurities in ambroxol hydrochloride oral solution, Project Leader.
⑧ Development of the fifth-category Chinese medicine "Luolukang", Project Leader of the fourth batch of science and technology plans (bidding projects) of Changsha City in 2006, Project Number KZB064003.
⑨ Development of “Danyan Kangtai” Capsules (fifth-category Chinese medicine new drugs), Project Leader.
⑩Research on the substance basis of adverse reactions of “Ganyanling” injection, project leader.
⑪Development of “Simotang” series preparations, project leader.
⑫Study on the anti-HBV activity of N-sugar and its derivatives in Morus alba bark, project leader, Hunan Provincial Health Department Fund (B-2004-012).
⑬Research and development of anti-respiratory virus compound, project leader, Central South University.
Patent achievements：
①An antiviral compound Chinese medicine and its preparation method, authorized.patent number ZL01131629.2
②A medicine containing sanone as an active ingredient, authorized patent ZL 200410046637.0
③A pharmaceutical preparation prepared with mulberry bark extract, authorized patent ZL200310115085.X
④Application of eucommia ulmoides lignans and their extracts in preventing and treating diabetic complications, authorized patent number 200710035745.1
⑤ Application of dihydroaromatic naphthalene lignan derivatives and their compositions for the preparation of drugs for the prevention and treatment of breast hyperplasia, patent application number: 201010185760.6
⑥ A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diabetes, patent application number: 200810031546.8, authorized on December 28, 2011
⑦ An extract with hypoglycemic effect, preparation method and use thereof, patent application number: 2007101083016
⑧ New medical use of Vitex and preparation method of drug intermediates, patent application number: 200710110553.2, authorized in 2011
⑨ Preparation method of dihydroaromatic naphthalene compounds and use as Akt inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of cancer, patent application number PCT/CN 2006/003703
⑩ White flower oldenlandia diffusa extract and its pharmaceutical preparation, preparation method and use, patent application number 2007100343478, authorized in June 2011.
⑪ A refining process for Sophora flavescens extract, patent authorization number ZL200610136992.6, authorized patent announcement date: 2010.8.25
⑫ Aryl dihydronaphthalene lignan derivatives and their uses, patent application number 200510136656.7
⑬ Selaginella pulvinata extract, extraction method and use, patent application number 200810143056.7
⑭ Use of Selaginella pulvinata extract in the preparation of anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs, patent application number 200810143057.1
Papers published in the past five years: 
(1) Qing Wang; Sen-Lin Wang; Jin-Bao Fan; Guang-Yao Zeng; Ying-Jun Zhou; Xu Deng; Acidpromoted intra- and intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of indoles to aryl alkynes to access cyclobutene-fused indolines, Chemical Communications, 2022, 58(66): 9270-9273.
(2) Zhipeng Zhang; Ying-jun Zhou; Xiao-Wei Liang ; Total synthesis of natural products using photocycloaddition reactions of arenes, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2020, 18(29): 5558-5566.
(3) Shu-Ting Yang; Jin-Bao Fan; Ting-Ting Liu; Shuai Ning; Jia-Hao Xu; Ying-Jun Zhou; Xu Deng; Development of Strigolactones as Novel Autophagy/Mitophagy Inhibitors against Colorectal Cancer Cells by Blocking the Autophagosome–Lysosome Fusion, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2022, 65(14): 9706-9717.
(4) Wei Cao; Jinbao Fan; Linyang Yan; Guangyao Zeng; Jinjin Ma; Yajing Wang; Yingjun Zhou; Xu Deng; Divergent Reactivity in CuII-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling between Indole/Tryptamine Derivatives and β-Arylacrylic Acids, Organic Letters, 2019, (9): 23.
(5) Wei Cao; Tingting Liu; Shuting Yang; Moude Liu; Zhenghong Pan; Yingjun Zhou; Xu Deng ;Efficient Synthesis of Icetexane Diterpenes and Apoptosis Inducing Effect by Upregulating BiPATF4-CHOP Axis in Colorectal Cells, Journal of Natural Products, 2021, 84(7): 2012-2019.
Main social positions:
Reviewer of Natural Product Communications.
Reviewer of Fitoterapia.
Expert of Hunan Natural Science Foundation Review Expert Database.
Review Expert of Hunan Science and Technology Project.
New Drug Review Expert of Hunan Province.
Deputy Secretary-General of Hunan Changsha Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Alliance.
Expert of Changsha Industrial Industry Expert Database.
Editorial Board Member of "Central South Pharmacy".
Technical Advisor of Hunan Jinsha Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Technical Advisor of Hunan Hill Natural Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.