A research laboratory using advanced imaging techniques and computational analysis to understand brain behaviour is being established as a joint initiative between The University of Queensland (UQ) and The Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIA).
Researchers from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and CASIA will work in partnership at the Sino-Australian Laboratory of Brainnetome to map brain behaviour and develop a greater understanding of how neural networks function in both diseased and normal states.
Professor Tianzi Jiang, a neuroimaging researcher who has a joint appointment with UQ and CASIA, will oversee the development of the new laboratory.
“Both the institutes share common interests in using neuroimaging techniques to understand brain networks and have complementary expertise and facilities in the field,” Professor Jiang said.
“We believe that collaborative research and scientific exchange through the establishment of a joint research laboratory will be mutually beneficial for both UQ and CASIA.”
Five researchers from UQ, and 12 researchers and 20 PhD students from CASIA will collaborate on research both in China and at QBI at UQ’s St Lucia campus in Brisbane, Australia.
Queensland Brain Institute Director Professor Perry Bartlett said he was confident the partnership with such a high-quality institute in China would deliver exciting outcomes.
“Using the advanced technology at CASIA neuroimaging to track brain behaviour when performing tasks provides invaluable insight into brain behavior,” he said.
“This not only helps us to understand how a healthy brain works, but it also provides insight into the wiring changes that occur in a diseased brain.”
The findings will be used to develop computational models to diagnose changes in brain wiring associated with diseases.
Computational analysis and neuroimaging will also be applied to other areas of research at QBI, such as learning and memory.
“This approach will be used in our Science of Learning Centre to understand the networks involved during learning and the formation of memories and applied to deliver more effective education models in schools and universities,” Professor Bartlett said.
This week, UQ’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj will meet with senior leaders from CAS as part of a one-week visit to China.
The Sino-Australian Laboratory of Brainnetome adds to the collaborative portfolio between UQ and CAS. Other joint UQ-CAS initiatives include the Joint Laboratory of Neuroscience and Cognition with the Institute of Biophysics, which is dedicated to providing solutions to overcome disorders of the brain by improving the function of nerve cells.
Media: Anna Bednarek, UQ Communications, +61 7 3346 7691, a.bednarek@uq.edu.au or Liz Rourke, UQ International, +61 7 3346 0665 or e.rourke@uq.edu.au
About The University of Queensland (UQ)
The University of Queensland, Australia, is one of the world’s premier teaching and research institutions. It is consistently ranked in the top 100 in four independent global rankings. With more than 45,000 students and 6500 staff, UQ’s teaching is informed by research, and spans six faculties and eight research institutes. http://www.uq.edu.au/
View a video about research at The University of Queensland here
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About The Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is the national academy and comprehensive R&D centre in natural science, technological science and high-tech innovation in China. It is an institution of the State Council of China.
CAS is China’s scientific think-tank, providing advisory and appraisal services on issues stemming from the national economy, social development, and science and technology progress. http://www.cas.cn/ http://english.cas.cn/
About The Queensland Brain Institute
The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) was established as a research institute of The University of Queensland in 2003. The Institute now operates out of a $63 million state-of-the-art facility and houses 33 principal investigators with strong international reputations. QBI is one of the largest neuroscience institutes in the world dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying brain function. http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/about-qbi
