Overview
Background
I completed a PhD in Neuroscience with Jack Pettigrew (FRS) at Vision, Touch & Hearing Research Centre followed by an NHMRC Clinical Research Fellowship at Alfred Health & Monash University.
Back in QLD I'm continuing a transdisciplinary research & innovation program to Bring Discoveries of the Brain to Life!
I'm currently focused on developing novel MedTech Biotech diagnostics & therapeutics for enhancing human performance, recovery & resilience with the following projects:
[1] Precision Pain Medicine — the largest genetic study of persistent (chronic) pain in Australia, in collaboration with QIMR Berghofer & Monash University, aims to identify pharmacogenomics causal pathways for the design of personalised therapeutics & effective early intervention approaches (e.g., screening, education, prevention).
[2] Brain Switcha — A digital transdiagnostic biomarker and cloud-based large-scale population phenotyping & analytics platform to improve early intervention strategies in sleep & mental health conditions (esp. at-risk youth cohorts) and recruitment screening for Defence forces.
[3] VCS — vestibulocortical stimulation: A simple, inexpensive, non-invasive & non-pharmacologic neurotherapeutic treatment technique for fibromyalgia (with US colleagues) and other centralised pain syndromes, sleep apnoea, dementia & mental health conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder).
I also have >5 years professional services experience providing specialist research performance evaluation, consultation, reporting & training workshops that successfully delivered several major strategic priorities to a large internal & external client base — such as organisational unit leaders/managers at multiple levels (e.g., Centre/Department) and senior executive business missions for national/international strategic partnerships. This work includes mapping, monitoring & benchmarking of research capacity, capabilities/strengths, gaps & collaboration networks (e.g., clinical, corporate & government) across diverse disciplines for Annual & Septennial Departmental Reviews (e.g., patent, policy & clinical guideline citations; external stakeholder engagement including media); ARC Engagement & Impact assessments; and workforce capability development (e.g., recruitment for senior leadership positions and ranking of NHMRC/ARC funding applicants).
In particular, I enjoy meeting & connecting people with a shared vision & commitment towards building innovative & sustainable public-private partnerships to deliver meaningful solutions for the wider community.
Availability
- Dr Trung Ngo is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
VCS — Vestibulocortical Stimulation: Applications & mechanisms
— effectiveness of non-invasive vestibular neuromodulation protocols as a treatment for psychiatric & neurological illnesses (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, epilepsy, persistent pain) and enhancing affective-cognitive Resilience in Contested Environments #RiCE | #PrecisionPainMedicine — clinical and performance-enhancing applications of repeated VCS (#rVCS) — and the genetics & neuroimaging of its (therapeutic) response — with the aim of elucidating novel electroceutical pathways, response biomarkers and personalised treatment protocols across a spectrum psychiatric & neurological disorders | 'Electroceutomics'
-
Minimal phenotyping: Perceptual & cognitive biomarkers
— validating the clinical utility of novel visual task measures for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness (e.g., young people, at-risk/early psychosis cohorts). — multi-platform development of candidate diagnostic/endophenotype perceptual & cognitive task measures for large-scale user-friendly testing in genotyped and at-risk/youth cohorts (e.g., web, mobile, tablet, gaming, virtual reality).
-
Phylogenetics & evolution of bistable switching and VCS network
— from bacterial chemotaxis & fruit fly optomotor responses to binary decision-making in mammals (e.g., approach/avoidance choice behaviour) and disordered mood/cognitive states in humans (e.g., mania/depression, denial/insight) — investigating the comparative genetics, neural network dynamics (e.g., vestibulocortical circuitry) and molecular mechanisms of bistable (anti-phase) interhemispheric oscillations — which have been observed across a range of phenotypes (e.g., biological rhythms, autonomic functions, oculomotor activity, perception/attention, cognitive/behaviour changes) and in different species (e.g., Drosophila, sandlance, birds, cetaceans, rodents, humans) | #PrecisionSwitchMedicine
-
MedTech & Biotech platform development
— autonomic activity recording devices with real-time analysis output of endogenous rhythms and their clinical (diagnostic) utility in psychiatry, neurology & sleep medicine | #PrecisionSleepMedicine — portable/wearable devices with integrated software applications for (i) perceptual rivalry viewing (e.g., stereoscopic 3D displays), data collection & analyses; (ii) probing interhemispheric rhythms (e.g., autonomic respiratory/nasal cycle periodicity); and (iii) inducing, recording & real-time analysis output of VCS.
-
Scientometrics of research benefits
— developing quantitative indicators of interdisciplinary conceptual & empirical synthesis, scientific impact, translational & innovation outcomes using machine learning (A.I.) analytical methods.
Works
Search Professor Trung Ngo’s works on UQ eSpace
2010
Conference Publication
Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate, an endophenotype for bipolar disorder
Miller, S. M., Hansell, N. K., Ngo, T. T., Liu, G. B., Pettigrew, J. D., Martin, N. G. and Wright, M. J. (2010). Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate, an endophenotype for bipolar disorder. 18th World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, Athens, Greece, 3–7 October 2010. International Society of Psychiatric Genetics.
2010
Conference Publication
Caloric vestibular stimulation reduces allodynia in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II
Ngo, T. T., Chou, M. J., Nunn, A., Arnold, C., Brown, D. J., Gibson, S. J. and Miller, S. M. (2010). Caloric vestibular stimulation reduces allodynia in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II. ANS/AuPS 2010 — 30th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the Australian Physiological Society, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 31 January – 3 February 2010. Australian Neuroscience Society.
2010
Conference Publication
An association between inequity-averse moral preference and risk aversion in decision-making
Palmer, C. J., Paton, B., Ngo, T. T., Thomson, R. H., Hohwy, J. and Miller, S. M. (2010). An association between inequity-averse moral preference and risk aversion in decision-making. ANS/AuPS 2010 — 30th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the Australian Physiological Society, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 31 January – 3 February 2010. Australian Neuroscience Society.
2010
Conference Publication
The genetics of binocular rivalry
Miller, S. M., Hansell, N. K., Ngo, T. T., Liu, G. B., Pettigrew, J. D., Martin, N. G. and Wright, M. J. (2010). The genetics of binocular rivalry. 7th FENS Forum of European Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 3–7 July, 2010. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
2009
Other Outputs
Advancing the interhemispheric switch model of perceptual rivalry
Ngo, Trung Thanh (2009). Advancing the interhemispheric switch model of perceptual rivalry. PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences and School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.
2007
Journal Article
The changing face of perceptual rivalry
Ngo, T. T., Liu, G. B., Tilley, A. J., Pettigrew, J. D. and Miller, S. M. (2007). The changing face of perceptual rivalry. Brain Research Bulletin, 75 (5), 610-618. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.10.006
2007
Journal Article
Studies of caloric vestibular stimulation: implications for the cognitive neurosciences, the clinical neurosciences and neurophilosophy
Miller, Steven M. and Ngo, Trung T. (2007). Studies of caloric vestibular stimulation: implications for the cognitive neurosciences, the clinical neurosciences and neurophilosophy. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 19 (3), 183-203. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2007.00208.x
2007
Conference Publication
Caloric vestibular stimulation: From diagnosis to therapy?
Miller, S. M. and Ngo, T. T. (2007). Caloric vestibular stimulation: From diagnosis to therapy?. World Psychiatric Association International Congress 2007, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 28 November – 2 December 2007. London, United Kingdom: Sage. doi: 10.1080/00048670701724597
2007
Conference Publication
Caloric vestibular stimulation: Perceptual rivalry and beyond
Ngo, T. T. and Miller, S. M. (2007). Caloric vestibular stimulation: Perceptual rivalry and beyond. 7th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 12–17 July 2007. International Brain Research Organization.
2007
Journal Article
The use of tDCS and CVS as methods of non-invasive brain stimulation
Been, Gregory, Ngo, Trung T., Miller, Steven M. and Fitzgerald, Paul B. (2007). The use of tDCS and CVS as methods of non-invasive brain stimulation. Brain Research Reviews, 56 (2), 346-361. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.08.001
2003
Journal Article
Slow binocular rivalry in bipolar disorder
Miller, S.M., Gynther, B.D., Heslop, K.R., Liu, G.B., Mitchell, P.B., Ngo, T.T., Pettigrew, J.D. and Geffen, L.B. (2003). Slow binocular rivalry in bipolar disorder. Psychological Medicine, 33 (4), 683-692. doi: 10.1017/S0033291703007475
2002
Conference Publication
Predominance of Rubin’s vase perceptual alternations changes with unilateral caloric vestibular stimulation
Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2002). Predominance of Rubin’s vase perceptual alternations changes with unilateral caloric vestibular stimulation. 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, Florida, USA, 3–7 November 2002. Washington, DC United States: Society for Neuroscience.
2002
Conference Publication
Coherence (full-field) rivalry but not half-field rivalry is mediated by interhemispheric switching
Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B., Tilley, A. J. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2002). Coherence (full-field) rivalry but not half-field rivalry is mediated by interhemispheric switching. Australian Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, Sydney, 3 - 6 February 2002. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society.
2001
Conference Publication
Temporal properties of binocular rivalry in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression
Miller, S. M., Geffen, L. B., Gynther, B. D., Heslop, K. R., Liu, G. B., Ngo, T. T., Mitchell, P. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2001). Temporal properties of binocular rivalry in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression. 21st Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Brisbane Convention Centre, Australia, 28–31 January 2001. Australian Neuroscience Society.
2001
Conference Publication
Coherence rivalry and caloric stimulation: Further support for an interhemispheric switch mechanism
Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2001). Coherence rivalry and caloric stimulation: Further support for an interhemispheric switch mechanism. 21st Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Brisbane Convention Centre, Australia, 28 - 31 January 2001. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society.
2000
Journal Article
Interhemispheric switching mediates perceptual rivalry
Miller, SM, Liu, GB, Ngo, TT, Hooper, G, Riek, S, Carson, RG and Pettigrew, JD (2000). Interhemispheric switching mediates perceptual rivalry. Current Biology, 10 (7), 383-392. doi: 10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00416-4
2000
Conference Publication
Unilateral caloric stimulation changes perceptual predominance during binocular rivalry with oblique gratings
Miller, S. M., Ngo, T. T., Liu, G. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2000). Unilateral caloric stimulation changes perceptual predominance during binocular rivalry with oblique gratings. 20th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 January – 2 February 2000. Australian Neuroscience Society.
2000
Journal Article
Binocular rivalry and perceptual coherence
Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2000). Binocular rivalry and perceptual coherence. Current Biology, 10 (4), R134-R136. doi: 10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00399-7
2000
Conference Publication
Coherence rivalry: The eyes don't have it!
Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2000). Coherence rivalry: The eyes don't have it!. 20th Annual Meeting Of The Australian Neuroscience Society, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 Jan - 2 Feb, 2000. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society.
2000
Conference Publication
Binocular rivalry is slow in bipolar disorder but not in schizophrenia or major depression
Miller, S. M., Liu, G. B., Ngo, T. T., Geffen, L. B., Gynther, B. D., Mitchell, P. B. and Pettigrew, J. D. (2000). Binocular rivalry is slow in bipolar disorder but not in schizophrenia or major depression. Congress of the Association of European Psychiatrists, Prague, Czech Republic, 28 October–1 November, 2000. Cedex, France: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0924-9338(00)94234-2
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Trung Ngo is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Honours / Masters / PhD / DPsych / DBiotech / MBBS / MD research projects
The following research projects are open to enthusiastic & driven individuals from a wide range of background disciplines/industry experience, e.g., biomedical/electrical engineering, physics, computer science, mathematics & statistics, biological/life sciences, medicine & allied health, information technology, psychology:
Minimal phenotyping: Perceptual & cognitive biomarkers
- validating the clinical utility of novel visual task measures for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness (e.g., young people, at-risk/early psychosis cohorts).
- multi-platform development of candidate diagnostic/endophenotype perceptual & cognitive task measures for large-scale user-friendly testing in genotyped and at-risk/youth cohorts (e.g., web, mobile, tablet, gaming, virtual reality).
VCS — VestibuloCortical Stimulation: Applications & mechanisms
- effectiveness of non-invasive vestibular neuromodulation protocols as a treatment for psychiatric & neurological illnesses (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, epilepsy, persistent pain) and enhancing affective-cognitive Resilience in Contested Environments #RiCE | #PrecisionPainMedicine
- clinical and performance-enhancing applications of repeated VCS (#rVCS) — and the genetics & neuroimaging of its (therapeutic) response — with the aim of elucidating novel electroceutical pathways, response biomarkers and personalised treatment protocols across a spectrum psychiatric & neurological disorders | 'Electroceutomics'
MedTech & Biotech platform development
- autonomic activity recording devices with real-time analysis output of endogenous rhythms and their clinical (diagnostic) utility in psychiatry, neurology & sleep medicine | #PrecisionSleepMedicine
- portable/wearable devices with integrated software applications for (i) perceptual rivalry viewing (e.g., stereoscopic 3D displays), data collection & analyses; (ii) probing interhemispheric rhythms (e.g., autonomic respiratory/nasal cycle periodicity); and (iii) inducing, recording & real-time analysis output of VCS.
Phylogenetics & evolution of bistable switching and VCS network
- from bacterial chemotaxis & fruit fly optomotor responses to binary decision-making in mammals (e.g., approach/avoidance choice behaviour) and disordered mood/cognitive states in humans (e.g., mania/depression, denial/insight)
- investigating the comparative genetics, neural network dynamics (e.g., vestibulocortical circuitry) and molecular mechanisms of bistable (anti-phase) interhemispheric oscillations — which have been observed across a range of phenotypes (e.g., biological rhythms, autonomic functions, oculomotor activity, perception/attention, cognitive/behaviour changes) and in different species (e.g., Drosophila, sandlance, birds, cetaceans, rodents, humans) | #PrecisionSwitchMedicine
Scientometrics of research benefits
- developing quantitative indicators of interdisciplinary conceptual & empirical synthesis, scientific impact, translational & innovation outcomes using machine learning (A.I.) analytical methods.
Media
Enquiries
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