Established in October 2024 by Professor Chao-Gan Yan, THU Yan Lab at Tsinghua University continues the legacy of excellence laid by The R-fMRI Lab at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The lab is committed to advancing the forefront of brain imaging technology and leveraging these advancements for precision diagnostics and innovative treatments for psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on depression.
Dr. Chao-Gan Yan, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences at Tsinghua University, is recognized for his impactful contributions to neuroimaging and depression research. He has been named an Elsevier Highly Cited Chinese Researcher (2019-2023) and is listed among Stanford’s Top 2% of Scientists globally. His accolades include the 2021 Early Career Investigator Award from The Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) and the distinction of being the first recipient of the Second Prize of the Natural Science Award from the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Awards. Dr. Yan’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. from Beijing Normal University in 2011. His postdoctoral research roles in the United States included serving as a Research Scientist at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and as a Research Assistant Professor at New York University. He joined the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a professor in 2015 and earned a tenured professorship at Tsinghua University in 2024.
Dr. Yan envisions THU Yan Lab as a leading platform for research in the following key areas:
- Developing Reliable Brain Imaging Methods: The lab is dedicated to refining brain imaging methodologies and providing robust, standardized analysis platforms such as DPARSF, DPABI, DPABISurf, DPABIFiber, and DPABINet, which have collectively been cited over 6,000 times. The lab's ongoing initiatives include contributing to the development of a brain imaging reference model tailored for the Chinese population (RESTING) to enhance individualized detection of brain abnormalities.
- Overcoming Challenges in Depression Research and Intervention: The lab is addressing the limitations of small-sample brain imaging studies by championing large-scale, collaborative research efforts. Through projects like the Depression Imaging REsearch ConsorTium (DIRECT), the lab has helped identify more consistent brain imaging markers in depression. Key achievements include formulating hypotheses about the default network’s role in depressive rumination and creating data-driven algorithms for individualized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting in depression. The innovative “Mind Flower” project furthers these efforts by exploring novel psycho-physical intervention strategies.
- Pioneering fMRI-Based Mind Reading: Dr. Yan introduced the Think-Aloud fMRI paradigm, merging neuroimaging with deep learning models from natural language processing to investigate spontaneous brain activity and thought processes. This approach aims to lay the groundwork for mind-reading paradigms and the development of large-scale models simulating brain activity and thought, potentially advancing the concept of digital immortality and supporting future cognitive neuroscience research.
Dr. Yan’s extensive body of work includes over 100 publications in high-impact journals such as PNAS, Science Bulletin, and Molecular Psychiatry, with over 50 as the first or corresponding author. His work has accumulated over 22,000 citations, achieving an h-index of 47 (Google Scholar). Five of his publications as first or corresponding author have been listed as ESI Highly Cited Papers, with one in the top 0.01% and another in the top 0.1%, while three have been cited over 1,000 times each. Dr. Yan also serves as a Handling Editor for Imaging Neuroscience.
THU Yan Lab is committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive research environment where members are encouraged to explore and develop their unique research interests. The lab nurtures academic growth through workshops, seminars, and collaborative projects, aiming to make meaningful contributions to the understanding and treatment of brain disorders while advocating for open and inclusive scientific inquiry.