James J. Li, PhD

Position title: A. A. Alexander Associate Professor, Psychology and Psychiatry

PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Contact Information

Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Room 263
Madison, WI 53705
608.265.1091
james.li@wisc.edu
Website: Social and Behavioral Development Lab

Research Statement

My lab investigates genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of child externalizing disorders (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder). Research in my lab utilizes molecular genetic approaches (e.g., genome-wide association scans, gene-pathway analysis) to advance understanding about the genetic architecture underlying complex developmental phenomena. We also focus on rigorous measurement of early environmental influences as they relate to child behavioral problems, not only for risk factors such as negative parenting and maltreatment, but also for enriched factors such as positive parenting and social support. The goal of this research is to understand how genes and environments independently and interactively influence variation in child social and behavioral development, and to ultimately bridge the substantial gap between genetics/neuroscience and prevention/intervention.

Selected Publications

Michelini, G., Carlisi, C. O., Eaton, N. R., Elison, J. T., Haltigan, J. D., Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Latzman, R. D., Li, J. J., Levin-Aspenson, H. F., Salum, G. A., South, S. C., Stanton, K., Waldman, I. D., & Wilson, S. (2024). Where do neurodevelopmental conditions fit in transdiagnostic psychiatric frameworks? Incorporating a new neurodevelopmental spectrum. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 23(3), 333–357. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21225
Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., Li, J. J., & Travers, B. G. (2024). Microstructural neural correlates of maximal grip strength in autistic children: the role of the cortico-cerebellar network and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder features. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 18, 1359099. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2024.1359099
Waszczuk, M. A., Jonas, K. G., Bornovalova, M., Breen, G., Bulik, C. M., Docherty, A. R., Eley, T. C., Hettema, J. M., Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Lencz, T., Li, J. J., Vassos, E., & Waldman, I. D. (2023). Dimensional and transdiagnostic phenotypes in psychiatric genome-wide association studies. Molecular psychiatry, 28(12), 4943–4953. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02142-8
He, Q., Keding, T. J., Zhang, Q., Miao, J., Russell, J. D., Herringa, R. J., Lu, Q., Travers, B. G., & Li, J. J. (2023). Neurogenetic mechanisms of risk for ADHD: Examining associations of polygenic scores and brain volumes in a population cohort. Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 15(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-023-09498-6
He, Q., & Li, J. J. (2022). A Gene-Environment Interaction Study of Polygenic Scores and Maltreatment on Childhood ADHD. Research on child and adolescent psychopathology, 50(3), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-021-00873-2
Zhang, Y., Lu, Q., Ye, Y., Huang, K., Liu, W., Wu, Y., Zhong, X., Li, B., Yu, Z., Travers, B. G., Werling, D. M., Li, J. J., & Zhao, H. (2021). SUPERGNOVA: local genetic correlation analysis reveals heterogeneous etiologic sharing of complex traits. Genome biology, 22(1), 262. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-021-02478-w
Wu, Y., Zhong, X., Lin, Y., Zhao, Z., Chen, J., Zheng, B., Li, J. J., Fletcher, J. M., & Lu, Q. (2021). Estimating genetic nurture with summary statistics of multigenerational genome-wide association studies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(25), e2023184118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023184118
Greenberg, J., Hilton, E. C., Li, J. J., Lu, Q., & Mailick, M. R. (2021). The impact of parenting a child with serious mental illness: Accounting for the parent’s genetic vulnerability to mental illness. Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 35(3), 417–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000783
Guo, H., Li, J. J., Lu, Q., & Hou, L. (2021). Detecting local genetic correlations with scan statistics. Nature communications, 12(1), 2033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22334-6
He, Q., & Li, J. J. (2021). Factorial invariance in hierarchical factor models of mental disorders in African American and European American youths. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 62(3), 289–298. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13243
Li, J. J., & He, Q. (2021). Polygenic Scores for ADHD: A Meta-Analysis. Research on child and adolescent psychopathology, 49(3), 297–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-021-00774-4
Li J. J. (2021). The positive end of the polygenic score distribution for ADHD: a low risk or a protective factor?. Psychological medicine, 51(1), 102–111. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719003039
Russell, J. D., Keding, T. J., He, Q., Li, J. J., & Herringa, R. J. (2020). Childhood exposure to interpersonal violence is associated with greater transdiagnostic integration of psychiatric symptoms. Psychological medicine, 52, 1883–1891. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720003712
Li JJ. (2019). Assessing phenotypic and polygenic models of ADHD to identify mechanisms of risk for longitudinal trajectories of externalizing behaviors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(11):1191-1199. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13071.
Li JJ. (2019). The positive end of the polygenic score distribution for ADHD: a low risk or a protective factor? Psychological Medicine. 2019 Oct 29:1-10. doi: 10.1017/S0033291719003039. In Press.
Morrison RA, Martinez JI, Hilton EC, Li JJ. (2019). The influence of parents and schools on developmental trajectories of antisocial behaviors in Caucasian and African American youths. Development & Psychopathology, 31(4):1575-1587. doi: 10.1017/S0954579418001335.
Li JJ, Reise SP, Chronis-Tuscano A, Mikami AY, Lee SS. (2016) Item Response Theory Analysis of ADHD Symptoms in Children With and Without ADHD. Assessment, 23(6):655-671.
Li JJ, Chung TA, Vanyukov MM, Scott Wood D, Ferrell R, Clark DB. (2015) A Hierarchical Factor Model of Executive Functions in Adolescents: Evidence of Gene-Environment Interplay. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 21(1), 62-73. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355617714001039.
Li JJ, Lee SS. (2014) Negative emotionality mediates the association of 5-HTTLPR genotype and depression in children with and without ADHD. Psychiatry Research. 30;215(1):163-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.
Li JJ, Berk MS, Lee SS. (2013) Differential susceptibility in longitudinal models of gene-environment interaction for adolescent depression. Development and Psychopathology. 25(4 Pt 1):991-1003. doi: 10.1017/S0954579413000321.
Li JJ, Lee SS. (2013) Interaction of dopamine transporter gene and observed parenting behaviors on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 42(2):174-86. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2012.736355.
Li JJ, Lee SS. (2012) Association of positive and negative parenting behavior with childhood ADHD: interactions with offspring monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) genotype. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 40(2):165-75. doi: 10.1007/s10802-011-9553-z.
Li JJ, Lee SS. (2010) Latent class analysis of antisocial behavior: interaction of serotonin transporter genotype and maltreatment. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 38(6):789-801. doi: 10.1007/s10802-010-9409-y.