Christopher C. Abbott

Christopher C. Abbott is a geriatric psychiatrist serving as Division Chief of Neuromodulation and ECT Medical Director at the University of New Mexico, where he holds the Edward and Sophie Schmider Professorship in Psychiatry in Neuromodulation. His work focuses on advancing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) through neuromodulation techniques and neuroimaging for severe depression treatment.

Dr. Abbott's research centers on neuromodulation mechanisms, particularly ECT optimization using computational modeling and multimodal neuroimaging. He investigates brain network changes, electric field distributions, and seizure thresholds to improve antidepressant outcomes while minimizing cognitive side effects in late-life depression. His work bridges micro-level neurobiology to macro-level brain network dynamics.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on ECT biomarker development through machine learning and multicenter collaborations. Key themes include electric field modeling for treatment personalization, resting-state connectivity as a predictor of response, and cognitive outcome optimization. His work consistently leverages the Global ECT MRI Collaboration (GEMRIC) framework for large-scale validation.

Dr. Abbott has served as Principal Investigator on multiple National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grants supporting ECT imaging research. He is a core contributor to the Global ECT MRI Collaboration (GEMRIC), coordinating international efforts to standardize ECT protocols and validate neuroimaging biomarkers across diverse patient populations.

He leads the neuromodulation division at the University of New Mexico and directs GEMRIC activities, which involve over 20 international sites conducting coordinated MRI studies during ECT treatment. This infrastructure enables large-scale analysis of treatment mechanisms and outcome predictors.