معرفی
Dr Wei-Ju Chang is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He also serves as a visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and maintains an active clinical role as an APA-titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in private practice in Sydney.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, Western Sydney University
- Master of Orthopaedics, Sports & Manual Physiotherapy, University of South Australia
Research Focus
Dr Chang’s research integrates advanced neurophysiological techniques to investigate the transition from acute to chronic musculoskeletal pain. His work explores cortical and spinal neuroplasticity, quantitative sensory testing, and the therapeutic potential of non-invasive brain stimulation—particularly repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—for conditions such as knee osteoarthritis and low back pain. A complementary line of inquiry examines EEG-based biomarkers, including peak alpha frequency, as predictors and modulators of pain outcomes.
Publication Trends
Across more than 50 peer-reviewed outputs since 2015, Dr Chang’s articles cluster in three dominant themes: (1) systematic reviews and meta-analyses that synthesize evidence on neuromodulation and quantitative sensory testing; (2) longitudinal cohort studies that identify neurobiological predictors of chronic pain; and (3) interventional pilot RCTs that test adjunctive brain stimulation combined with exercise therapy. His 2024–2025 publications emphasize individualized pain prediction, prophylactic neuromodulation, and mechanistic TMS-EEG studies.
Grant Support & Collaborations
- 2023: University of Newcastle Pilot Funding Scheme (AUD $4,883) – Lead CI on mechanisms of rTMS-induced analgesia.
- 2022: NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship (AUD $105,437) – Lead CI on neurobiological transition to chronic low back pain.
- 2022: CHMW Strategic Research Pilot Grant (AUD $9,783) – Co-I investigating brain biomarkers for chronic postsurgical pain.
- 2021: ANZMUSC Seed Funding (AUD $20,000) – Lead CI combining rTMS with exercise in knee osteoarthritis.
- 2019: Physiotherapy Research Foundation Seeding Grant (AUD $9,511) – Lead CI exploring neuroplastic mechanisms of quadriceps weakness post-TKR.
Laboratory & Team Affiliations
Dr Chang is affiliated with the Neuroplasticity and Pain Research Group at the University of Newcastle, led by Prof Siobhan Schabrun. Through NeuRA he collaborates on multimodal imaging and neurophysiology projects, leveraging state-of-the-art TMS-EEG and MR-compatible stimulation platforms.
