ACU Researcher

• Data processing and interpretation across multi-modalities of brain neuroimaging (structural MRI, task-based/resting-state functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, DTI, MTR, etc.), including the utilisation of most open-access databases.
• Investigating the mechanisms underlying addiction and other mental health conditions.
• Research on intervention-induced brain plasticity (e.g., exercise, brain stimulation, cognitive training) using longitudinal MRI.
• Advanced methods and applications of MR spectroscopy.
• Advanced technology development and application, such as VR and psycho-physiological measurements.
• Imaging and behavioural data modelling and analysis.

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Highlighted publications

• Suzuki S, Zhang X, Dezfouli A, Braganza L, Fulcher BD, Parkes L, Fontenelle LF, Harrison BJ, Murawski C, Yucel M, Suo C*: Individuals with problem gambling and obsessive-compulsive disorder learn through distinct reinforcement mechanisms. PLoS Biology 2023, 21(3):e3002031.
• Suo C, Singh MF, Gates N, Wen W, Sachdev P, Brodaty H, Saigal N, Wilson GC, Meiklejohn J, Singh N, Baune BT, Baker M, Foroughi N, Wang Y, Mavros Y, Lampit A, Leung I, Valenzuela MJ: Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise. Molecular Psychiatry 2016, 21(11):1633-1642.
• Maleki S, Hendrikse J, Richardson K, Segrave RA, Hughes S, Kayayan E, Oldham S, Syeda W, Coxon JP, Caeyenberghs K, Dominguez DJ, Solowij N, Lubman DI, Suo C*, Yucel M*: White matter alterations associated with chronic cannabis use disorder: a structural network and fixel-based analysis. Transl Psychiatry 2024, 14(1):429.
• Maleki S, Chye Y, Zhang X, Parkes L, Chamberlain SR, Fontenelle LF, Braganza L, Youssef G, Lorenzetti V, Harrison BJ, Yucel M, Suo C*: Neural correlates of symptom severity in obsessive-compulsive disorder using magnetization transfer and diffusion tensor imaging. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging 2020, 298:111046
• Segal A, Parkes L, Aquino K, …, Suo C, Berk M, Cotton S, Bellgrove MA, Marquand AF, Fornito A: Regional, circuit and network heterogeneity of brain abnormalities in psychiatric disorders. Nature Neuroscience 2023, 26(9):1613-1629.

Projects

• Works on the development of several imaging-related technical projects such as the Australian Biomedical Image Research Database (ABIRD), and manages several open-access imaging services (e.g., HCP, ABCD, UK Biobank) within a cluster computing system.

• Chao also manages approximately 50 brain imaging projects, including local data collection with 3T Skyra, 3T Biograph or 7T Scanner (around 30 projects), and multi-site imaging projects.

Awards

Grants:

• ENIGMA Milken foundation consultancy fund, ENIGMA Bipolar R01 Travel grant (2k USD/ year),
• Australia Catholic University, FHS 2022 Research Project Grant Scheme for Early and Mid-Career Researchers, 10K. Psych Research Initiatives Fund: Overcoming trauma: a real-time fMRI neurofeedback intervention using virtual reality. (AUD 14,400) 2015-2016

Awards:

• Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility Imaging competition, Clinical imaging winner 2023 and 2021
• Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) Scholarship 2012 – 2013
• National Health and Medical Research Council-Funded Scholarship AUD 30,000 /annual 2008 – 2011

Public engagement

Media Interview

• Brain Park interview, https://twitter.com/BrainPark/status/1323830045224235008
• ABC catalyst show, The Science of Meditation – can it really change you? 7 June 2016 http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4477405.htm
• Newspaper the AGE: Managers Have Bigger Brains (ONLY abstract chosen to be released to media at Brain Science Symposium 2010, Sydney, Australia)
• TV Exclusive Interview: Hunan TV 2008