Yen-Yu Ian Shih

Yen-Yu Ian Shih, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology – Neuroscience Research at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He serves as Vice Chair for Research and Associate Director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), while leading the Center for Animal MRI. His research focuses on advanced neuroimaging techniques, including high-resolution fMRI in animal models, mechanisms of fMRI signaling, neuromodulation, and brain circuit connectivity. Dr. Shih holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from National Taiwan University (2008) and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio (2011).

His work bridges basic neuroscience and translational imaging, emphasizing rodent models to study neurovascular coupling, Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology, and the effects of alcohol and neuromodulatory interventions. He develops cutting-edge methodologies like ZTE (Zero Echo Time) fMRI and SORDINO protocols to enhance imaging specificity and reduce artifacts in awake animals. Collaborative projects include multi-center fMRI datasets and standardized pipelines for rodent sensory-evoked studies.

Dr. Shih’s contributions span neuroimaging technology, neuropharmacology, and systems neuroscience. His lab integrates fMRI with optogenetics, chemogenetics, and electrophysiology to dissect neural circuits. Recent projects explore the interplay between stress, neuroinflammation, and functional connectivity disruptions in conditions like PTSD and chronic pain.

He has advised numerous postdoctoral researchers and oversees major grants focused on neuroimaging infrastructure and disease modeling. His work has implications for understanding brain network dysfunctions in neurological and psychiatric disorders.