Li-Ming Hsu

Li-Ming Hsu is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at the UNC School of Medicine. His work focuses on neuroimaging techniques, particularly functional MRI (fMRI), to study brain networks and their roles in behavior, disease, and addiction. He specializes in translating rodent models to human applications, developing machine learning tools for neuroimaging analysis, and investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying brain functions.

His research emphasizes understanding addiction mechanisms through rodent models, such as nicotine and cocaine studies, while advancing imaging methodologies like SORDINO and U-Net-based segmentation. He has pioneered techniques like optogenetic fMRI and chemogenetic stimulation to map therapeutic brain circuits. His work bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to improve diagnostic tools and therapies for neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

• Key Areas: Neuroimaging, functional MRI, addiction models, network neuroscience, machine learning
• Awards: ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Merit Awards (2020, 2016)
• Methodologies: Optogenetics, deep learning, rodent-human translation, network redundancy analysis

Publications reveal a focus on brain network dynamics in health and disease, with contributions to Alzheimer’s early detection, addiction circuitry, and fMRI methodological improvements. His work emphasizes translational potential, seeking to advance both basic science and clinical outcomes.