Associate Professor Fatima Nasrallah
Associate Professor

Fatima Nasrallah

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 33004

Background

Dr. Nasrallah is a neuroscientist with a background in magnetic resonance and interdisciplinary brain research. She graduated with a PhD in neurochemistry and NMR from the Neuroscience Research Australia Institute (NeurRA) at the University of New South Wales in 2009. In April 2009, She spent 3 years at the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (A*STAR) where she pioneered the use of magnetic resonance imaging as a tool in cognitive brain research in the rodent. In 2013, she was appointed as senior research fellow at the Clinical Imaging Research Center where she delved into the clinical realms of human imaging. In late 2015, she returned to Australia as a Motor Accident and Injury Commission fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland (UQ) where she independently heads her own group. Her research spans basic and clinical brain research with the the overall aim of understanding how the brain functions in health and injury, specifically, developing methods for early diagnosis of primary biomarkers following injury and translating these findings.

Availability

Associate Professor Fatima Nasrallah is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Research interests

  • Traumatic Brain Injury

    The development of translational imaging methods for the early diagnosis of brain function and prediction of patient outcome.

Research impacts

Through her work, she has established herself as one of the world experts in the area of functional brain imaging in rodent models. Her most significant contribution was made in 2014 when she demonstrated for the first time, imaging resting state functional connectivity in the mouse brain using MRI. This has made a major impact to the field especially the potential to translate such a technique in human to mouse models. This work was published in the prestigious Neuroimage journal. More impactful was the discovery that these resting state networks could detect cognition in the rat brain after a spatial learning memory task, which was also published in Neuroimage. A major contribution to the field is applying these MRI methods for clinical applications of injury and stroke. She is now leading a nationwide multicenter trial in patients with traumatic brain injury with the hope of using advanced neuroimaging methods to improve patient outcomes.

Search Professor Fatima Nasrallah’s works on UQ eSpace

107 works between 2007 and 2024
All (107) Journal Article (86) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (13) Other Outputs (7)

81 - 100 of 107 works

2016

Journal Article

Resting state functional connectivity data supports detection of cognition in the rodent brain

Nasrallah, Fatima A., To, Xuan Vinh, Chen, Der-Yow, Routtenberg, Aryeh and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2016). Resting state functional connectivity data supports detection of cognition in the rodent brain. Data in Brief, 7, 1156-1164. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.03.041

Resting state functional connectivity data supports detection of cognition in the rodent brain

2016

Journal Article

Characterisation and evaluation of soft elastomeric actuators for hand assistive and rehabilitation applications

Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Cho Hong Goh, James and Yeow, Chen-Hua (2016). Characterisation and evaluation of soft elastomeric actuators for hand assistive and rehabilitation applications. Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology, 40 (4), 199-209. doi: 10.3109/03091902.2016.1161853

Characterisation and evaluation of soft elastomeric actuators for hand assistive and rehabilitation applications

2016

Journal Article

Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents

Nasrallah, Fatima A., To, Xuan Vinh, Chen, Der-Yow, Routtenberg, Aryeh and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2016). Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents. NeuroImage, 127, 196-202. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.08.013

Functional connectivity MRI tracks memory networks after maze learning in rodents

2015

Journal Article

Metabolomic approaches to defining the role(s) of GABAρ receptors in the brain

Rae, Caroline, Nasrallah, Fatima A., Balcar, Vladimir J., Rowlands, Benjamin D., Johnston, Graham A. R. and Hanrahan, Jane R. (2015). Metabolomic approaches to defining the role(s) of GABAρ receptors in the brain. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 10 (3), 445-456. doi: 10.1007/s11481-014-9579-4

Metabolomic approaches to defining the role(s) of GABAρ receptors in the brain

2015

Journal Article

Dependence of BOLD signal fluctuation on arterial blood CO2 and O2: Implication for resting-state functional connectivity

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Yeow, Ling Yun, Biswal, Bharat and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2015). Dependence of BOLD signal fluctuation on arterial blood CO2 and O2: Implication for resting-state functional connectivity. NeuroImage, 117, 29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.05.035

Dependence of BOLD signal fluctuation on arterial blood CO2 and O2: Implication for resting-state functional connectivity

2015

Journal Article

Pharmacokinetics of Gd(DO3A-Lys) and MR imaging studies in an orthotopic U87MG glioma tumor model

Chandrasekharan, Prashant, Yang, Chang-Tong, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Tay, Hui Chien, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Robins, Edward G. (2015). Pharmacokinetics of Gd(DO3A-Lys) and MR imaging studies in an orthotopic U87MG glioma tumor model. Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging, 10 (3), 237-244. doi: 10.1002/cmmi.1634

Pharmacokinetics of Gd(DO3A-Lys) and MR imaging studies in an orthotopic U87MG glioma tumor model

2015

Conference Publication

Combining EPI and motion correction for fMRI human brain images with big motion

Lu, Zhongkang, Phua, Kok Soon, Huang, Weimin, Hong, Xin, Nasrallah, Fatima Ali, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Guan, Cuntai (2015). Combining EPI and motion correction for fMRI human brain images with big motion. 3Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Milan, Italy, 25-29 August 2015. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2015.7319624

Combining EPI and motion correction for fMRI human brain images with big motion

2015

Conference Publication

MRC-glove: A fMRI compatible soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation application

Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Low, Fan-Zhe, Goh, James C.H. and Yeow, Raye C.H. (2015). MRC-glove: A fMRI compatible soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation application. IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/ICORR.2015.7281289

MRC-glove: A fMRI compatible soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation application

2015

Conference Publication

A soft exoskeleton for hand assistive and rehabilitation application using pneumatic actuators with variable stiffness

Yap, Hong Kai, Lim, Jeong Hoon, Nasrallah, Fatima, Goh, James C. H. and Yeow, Raye C. H. (2015). A soft exoskeleton for hand assistive and rehabilitation application using pneumatic actuators with variable stiffness. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA, Seattle, WA USA, 26-30 May 2015. Washington, DC USA: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2015.7139889

A soft exoskeleton for hand assistive and rehabilitation application using pneumatic actuators with variable stiffness

2014

Journal Article

Pharmacological insight into neurotransmission origins of resting-state functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic agonist vs antagonist

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Low, Si-Min, Lew, Si Kang, Chen, Kaina and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Pharmacological insight into neurotransmission origins of resting-state functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic agonist vs antagonist. NeuroImage, 103, 364-373. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.09.004

Pharmacological insight into neurotransmission origins of resting-state functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic agonist vs antagonist

2014

Journal Article

Ethanol, not detectably metabolized in brain, significantly reduces brain metabolism, probably via action at specific GABA(A) receptors and has measureable metabolic effects at very low concentrations

Rae, Caroline D., Davidson, Joanne E., Maher, Anthony D., Rowlands, Benjamin D., Kashem, Mohammed A., Nasrallah, Fatima A., Rallapalli, Sundari K., Cook, James M. and Balcar, Vladimir J. (2014). Ethanol, not detectably metabolized in brain, significantly reduces brain metabolism, probably via action at specific GABA(A) receptors and has measureable metabolic effects at very low concentrations. Journal of Neurochemistry, 129 (2), 304-314. doi: 10.1111/jnc.12634

Ethanol, not detectably metabolized in brain, significantly reduces brain metabolism, probably via action at specific GABA(A) receptors and has measureable metabolic effects at very low concentrations

2014

Journal Article

Detection of functional connectivity in the resting mouse brain

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Tay, Hui-Chien and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Detection of functional connectivity in the resting mouse brain. NeuroImage, 86, 417-424. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.10.025

Detection of functional connectivity in the resting mouse brain

2014

Journal Article

Neural correlate of resting-state functional connectivity under α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, medetomidine

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Lew, Si Kang, Low, Amanda Si-Min and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2014). Neural correlate of resting-state functional connectivity under α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, medetomidine. NeuroImage, 84, 27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.08.004

Neural correlate of resting-state functional connectivity under α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, medetomidine

2013

Journal Article

Imaging brain deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism by glucoCEST MRI

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Pages, Guilhem, Kuchel, Philip W., Golay, Xavier and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2013). Imaging brain deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism by glucoCEST MRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 33 (8), 1270-1278. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.79

Imaging brain deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism by glucoCEST MRI

2012

Journal Article

Optimization of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for perfusion functional MRI of rodent brain

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Lee, Eugene L. Q. and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2012). Optimization of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for perfusion functional MRI of rodent brain. NMR in Biomedicine, 25 (11), 1209-1216. doi: 10.1002/nbm.2790

Optimization of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for perfusion functional MRI of rodent brain

2012

Journal Article

Metabolism, compartmentation, transport and production of acetate in the cortical brain tissue slice

Rae, Caroline, Fekete, Aurelie D., Kashem, Mohammed A., Nasrallah, Fatima A. and Broeer, Stefan (2012). Metabolism, compartmentation, transport and production of acetate in the cortical brain tissue slice. Neurochemical Research, 37 (11), 2541-2553. doi: 10.1007/s11064-012-0847-5

Metabolism, compartmentation, transport and production of acetate in the cortical brain tissue slice

2012

Journal Article

Pharmacological modulation of functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic receptor agonist alters synchrony but not neural activation

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Tan, Jolena and Chuang, Kai-Hsiang (2012). Pharmacological modulation of functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic receptor agonist alters synchrony but not neural activation. NeuroImage, 60 (1), 436-446. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.026

Pharmacological modulation of functional connectivity: α2-adrenergic receptor agonist alters synchrony but not neural activation

2012

Book Chapter

Functional MRI of neural plasticity and drug effect in the brain

Chuang, Kai-Hsiang and Nasrallah, Fatima A. (2012). Functional MRI of neural plasticity and drug effect in the brain. Advances in bio-imaging: from physics to signal understanding issues. (pp. 17-25) edited by Nicolas Loménie, Daniel Racoceanu and Alexandre Gouaillard. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-25547-2_2

Functional MRI of neural plasticity and drug effect in the brain

2011

Journal Article

Activity-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid release controls brain cortical tissue slice metabolism

Nasrallah, Fatima A. , Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline D. (2011). Activity-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid release controls brain cortical tissue slice metabolism. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 89 (12), 1935-1945. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22649

Activity-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid release controls brain cortical tissue slice metabolism

2010

Journal Article

A metabonomic study of inhibition of GABA uptake in the cerebral cortex

Nasrallah, Fatima A., Balcar, Vladimir J. and Rae, Caroline (2010). A metabonomic study of inhibition of GABA uptake in the cerebral cortex. Metabolomics, 6 (1), 67-77. doi: 10.1007/s11306-009-0176-0

A metabonomic study of inhibition of GABA uptake in the cerebral cortex

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    National Injury Insurance Agency, Queensland
    National Injury Insurance Agency, Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Decoding Brain-Behaviour Interactions to Inform Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    AUS-mTBI: designing and implementing the health informatics approaches to enhance treatment and care for people with mild TBI (MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission administered by Curtin University)
    Curtin University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    PREDICT-TBI
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    PREDICT-TBI - PREdiction and Diagnosis using Imaging and Clinical biomarkers Trial in Traumatic Brain Injury: the value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    NHMRC MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2022
    Co-design of an occupation-based virtual reality intervention for people with cognitive impairment after brain injury
    UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Early diagnosis and prognosis of TBI sequalae: the triad of tau, amyloid and neuroinflammation
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Dissolution DNP Hyperpolariser
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018
    A specialised surgical and behavioural facility for longitudinal, multimodal examination of the rodent brain
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Biomolecular Imager and microscope for preclinical radiopharmaceutical development
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Equipment for naturalistic sleep-wake, circadian rhythm, and stress measurement
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Sports concussion: informing recovery by imaging the brain abnormality in a rodent model
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Dr Fatima Nasrallah - Maternity Funding (Advance Queensland Women's Academic Fund)
    Queensland Government Advance Queensland Women's Academic Fund
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Exercise reverses cognitive decline in aged animals by growth hormone stimulation of neurogenesis in the hippocampus
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2021
    MAIC QBI Senior Research Fellowship
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Fatima Nasrallah is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structural and Functional changes in aged hippocampus following exercise as detected by MRI

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating therapeutic interventions following concussion

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Karen Barlow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of a model for prognostication of patient outcome following traumatic brain injury

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Shakes Chandra

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The development of precision medical care for the use of ketamine as a treatment for Australian Veterans with TRD and PTSD

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Susannah Tye

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of precision medicine biomarkers for ketamine as a treatment for TRD and PTSD

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Susannah Tye

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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