Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
Associate Professor

Gary Chung Kai Chan

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+61 7 344 32533

Background

Dr. Gary Chan is a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. His principal research interest lies in the field of substance misuse prevention and the application of cutting-edge statistical method for longitudinal analysis and causal inference. His recent publications have been focused on polysubstance use (including alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) profiles in adolescent populations, examinations of urban-rural differences in substance use, and the epidemiology of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use. He collaborates extensively with leading researchers in major national and international institutes, including the University of Washington, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Melbourne, and University College London. He has also served as a consultant at the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime to improve exisitng methods for monitoring global trends of illicit substance production, trafficking and use. This work has made significant impact on how global data will be collected, and these new data will be used by the United nations and many national governments to inform drug policy decision making. He is a Deputy Statistical and Methodology Editor for the journal Addiction.

Dr. Chan is also a statistical advisor at the School of Psychology, providing statistical advice to academic staff and RHD students. Since 2016, he has also delivered several advanced statistcal workshops at the School on R and statistical modelling.

Availability

Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Biostatistics Epidemiology Health Sciences Mathematical Sciences Psychology Statistics

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan’s works on UQ eSpace

215 works between 2012 and 2025
All (215) Journal Article (174) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (33) Other Outputs (7)

201 - 215 of 215 works

2015

Journal Article

A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion

Kelly, Adrian B., Evans-Whipp, Tracy J., Smith, Rachel, Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John, Patton, George C., Hemphill, Sheryl A., Hall, Wayne D. and Catalano, Richard R. (2015). A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion. Addiction, 110 (4), 627-635. doi: 10.1111/add.12829

A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion

2014

Journal Article

The association of puberty and young adolescent alcohol use: do parents have a moderating role?

Li, H. Karen, Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne W. (2014). The association of puberty and young adolescent alcohol use: do parents have a moderating role?. Addictive Behaviors, 39 (10), 1389-1393. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.05.006

The association of puberty and young adolescent alcohol use: do parents have a moderating role?

2014

Journal Article

Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?

Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., White, Angela, Saunders, John B., Baker, Peter J. and Connor, Jason P. (2014). Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?. Addictive Behaviors, 39 (8), 1249-1252. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.04.009

Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?

2014

Journal Article

Proximate causes and possible adaptive functions of mast seeding and barren flower shows in spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) in arid regions of Australia

Wright, Boyd R., Zuur, Alain F. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2014). Proximate causes and possible adaptive functions of mast seeding and barren flower shows in spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) in arid regions of Australia. Rangeland Journal, 36 (3), 297-308. doi: 10.1071/RJ13104

Proximate causes and possible adaptive functions of mast seeding and barren flower shows in spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) in arid regions of Australia

2013

Journal Article

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use: latent class analysis of an Australian nationally representative sample of young adults

Quek, Lake-Hui, Chan, Gary C. K., White, Angela, Connor, Jason P., Baker, Peter J., Saunders, John B. and Kelly, Adrian B. (2013). Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use: latent class analysis of an Australian nationally representative sample of young adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 1 (61) 61, 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2013.00061

Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use: latent class analysis of an Australian nationally representative sample of young adults

2013

Journal Article

Predicting steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years: age-related variations in key social influences

Chan, Gary C. K, Kelly, Adrian B., Toumbourou, John W., Hemphill, Sheryl A., Young, Ross McD., Haynes, Michele A. and Catalano, Richard F. (2013). Predicting steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years: age-related variations in key social influences. Addiction, 108 (11), 1924-1932. doi: 10.1111/add.12295

Predicting steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years: age-related variations in key social influences

2013

Journal Article

Beyond the primary influences of parents and peers on very young adolescent alcohol use: evidence of independent community effects

Smith, Dayna T., Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne W. (2013). Beyond the primary influences of parents and peers on very young adolescent alcohol use: evidence of independent community effects. Journal of Early Adolescence, OnlineFirst (5), 1-16. doi: 10.1177/0272431613498647

Beyond the primary influences of parents and peers on very young adolescent alcohol use: evidence of independent community effects

2013

Journal Article

Accounting for the association of family conflict and heavy alcohol use among adolescent girls: the role of depressed mood

Chan, Gary C. K., Kelly, Adrian B. and Toumbourou, John W. (2013). Accounting for the association of family conflict and heavy alcohol use among adolescent girls: the role of depressed mood. Journal of Studies On Alcohol and Drugs, 74 (3), 396-405. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2013.74.396

Accounting for the association of family conflict and heavy alcohol use among adolescent girls: the role of depressed mood

2013

Journal Article

The topography of multiple drug use among adolescent Australians: findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey

White, Angela, Chan, Gary C. K., Quek, Lake-Hui, Connor, Jason P., Saunders, John B., Baker, Peter, Brackenridge, Charlotte and Kelly, Adrian B. (2013). The topography of multiple drug use among adolescent Australians: findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Addictive Behaviors, 38 (4), 2068-2073. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.01.001

The topography of multiple drug use among adolescent Australians: findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey

2013

Journal Article

Polysubstance use in cannabis users referred for treatment: Drug use profiles, psychiatric comorbidity and cannabis-related beliefs

Connor, Jason P., Gullo, Matthew J., Chan, Gary, Young, Ross McD., Hall, Wayne D. and Feeney, Gerald F. X. (2013). Polysubstance use in cannabis users referred for treatment: Drug use profiles, psychiatric comorbidity and cannabis-related beliefs. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4 (AUG) Aticle 79, 79.1-79.6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00079

Polysubstance use in cannabis users referred for treatment: Drug use profiles, psychiatric comorbidity and cannabis-related beliefs

2013

Other Outputs

Understanding steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years

Chan, Chung Kai (2013). Understanding steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.88

Understanding steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years

2013

Conference Publication

A latent class analysis of polydrug use in treatment-seeking cannabis users: the role of social cognitive mechanisms

Chan, Gary, Connor, Jason P., Gullo, Matthew J., Young, Ross M. C. D., Hall, Wayne and Feeney, Gerald F. X. (2013). A latent class analysis of polydrug use in treatment-seeking cannabis users: the role of social cognitive mechanisms. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24-27 November 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. doi: 10.1111/dar.12077

A latent class analysis of polydrug use in treatment-seeking cannabis users: the role of social cognitive mechanisms

2012

Journal Article

How important is the context of an adolescent's first alcoholic drink? Evidence that parental provision may reduce later heavy episodic drinking

Kelly, Adrian, Chan, Gary C. K. and O'Flaherty, Martin (2012). How important is the context of an adolescent's first alcoholic drink? Evidence that parental provision may reduce later heavy episodic drinking. European Addiction Research, 18 (3), 140-148. doi: 10.1159/000335059

How important is the context of an adolescent's first alcoholic drink? Evidence that parental provision may reduce later heavy episodic drinking

2012

Journal Article

Very young adolescents and alcohol: Evidence of a unique susceptibility to peer alcohol use.

Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., O'Flaherty, Martin, Homel, Ross, Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne (2012). Very young adolescents and alcohol: Evidence of a unique susceptibility to peer alcohol use.. Addictive Behaviors, 37 (4), 414-419. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.11.038

Very young adolescents and alcohol: Evidence of a unique susceptibility to peer alcohol use.

2012

Conference Publication

Predicting steep trajectories of alcohol use in young adolescents: evidence of age-related variation in key risk factors

Chan, Gary Chung Kai, Kelly, Adrian, Toumbourou, John W., Young, Ross, Haynes, Michele, Hemphill, Sheryl and Catalano, Richard (2012). Predicting steep trajectories of alcohol use in young adolescents: evidence of age-related variation in key risk factors. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2012, Melbourne, Australia, 18-21 November 2012. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00514.x

Predicting steep trajectories of alcohol use in young adolescents: evidence of age-related variation in key risk factors

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2029
    Unleashing the power of AI: Supercharging social media campaigns against youth vaping
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Implementation, Effectiveness and Sustainability of a Co-designed Value-based Brief Intervention Model of Healthcare in Alcohol and Other Drug Services
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Unclouding the future: Igniting change with an AI-powered social media campaign against youth vaping
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    The Interdisciplinary Tobacco Endgame Research Network (INTER-Net)
    NHMRC Synergy Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Centre of Research Excellence in Alcohol and Other Drug sector capacity building for outcome focused, evidence based and cost effective care (CRE in AOD -CB)
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Establishing an International Consortium on video gaming addiction
    U21 Health Sciences Group International Projects Fund
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Review of alcohol and other drugs program
    Queensland Department of Education
    Open grant
  • 2023
    How can we minimise the adolescent uptake of vaping and related social and health harm?
    Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Causal inference with observational data in addiction research
    Australian Prevention Partnership Centre Administered by The Sax Institute
    Open grant
  • 2022
    Cannabis - A joyful treat or devil's fruit?
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    BALANCE: Promoting wellBeing in AdoLescent and young Adult cancer survivors
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    E-cigarettes and vaping: Holy grail of tobacco control or gateway to a public health disaster?
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Informing future policies on cannabis in Australia. Lessons from new trends in the USA and from the history of tobacco control.
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Pathways to multiple substance use: informing the next generation of prevention science
    UQ Fellowships
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Electronic cigarettes use among young people - risks factors for its initiation and escalation, impact on mental health, and its effect on smoking cessation

    Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporisors have been gaining popularity in many developed countries such as the US, Canada and the UK. It has been promoted as a cessation device for smokers, thus it holds the potential to reduce smoking related burden on the society. However, it also raises concerns that its uptake among young people may renormalise cigarette smoking. This projects will evaluate the overall evidences of its benefit and harms on public health.

  • Understanding initiation, escalation and remission of substance use from adolescence to mid-adulthood: A life course approach

    It is well known that adolescence is a period of experiementation and many adolescents may experience with illicit substance during this period. While many of them do not progress into problematic use (e.g. abuse and dependence), some have escalated their use during their 20s and maintained their habits into 30s and 40s. This project will take a life course approach to understand risk factors for substance initiation and escalation, and factors that are linked to natural remission of substance us in mid-adulthood.

  • The benefits and harms of Gaming

    With the proliferation of handheld devices, video gaming has penstrated nearly every corner of the world and every age groups. This project will focus on quantifying the benefit of gaming, such as increased connectivity with friends in the virtual world and overcoming loneliness during difficult time (e.g., COVID lockdown), and the potential harms such as addiction.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan directly for media enquiries about:

  • alcohol
  • cannabis
  • Substance use

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