Associate Professor Rodrigo Suarez
Senior Lecturer & Associate Professor
School of Biomedical Sciences
+61 7 334 66342
Researcher biography
I am a biologist interested in the general question of how changes in developmental processes can lead to evolutionary variation and origin of complex traits (such as neural circuits). I study development and evolution of the brain of mammals. My doctoral thesis studied brain regions involved in olfactory and pheromonal communication in mammals. I discovered several events of parallel co-variation of sensory pathways in distantly related species sharing similar ecological niches, as cases of ontogenetic and phylogenetic plasticity. Currently, I study development and evolution of neocortical circuits by following two main lines of research: one aims to determine how early neuronal activity emerges during development and help shape brain connections, and the other one aims to understand what developmental processes led to evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. My research combines molecular development (electroporation, CRISPR), transcriptomics, sensory manipulations, neuroanatomy mapping (MRI, stereotaxic tracer injections, confocal and image analysis), optogenetics, and in vivo calcium imaging (multiphoton and widefield) in rodent pups and marsupial joeys.
Book Chapter
Suarez, Rodrigo (2017). Evolution of telencephalic commissures: conservation and change of developmental systems in the origin of brain wiring novelties. Evolution of nervous systems. (pp. 205-223) edited by Jon H. Kaas and Suzana Herculano-Houzel. Kidlington, United Kingdom: Academic Press/Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-804042-3.00042-7
Journal Articles
Currey, Laura, Mitchell, Benjamin, Al-Khalily, Majd, McElnea, Sarah-Jayne, Kozulin, Peter, Harkins, Danyon, Pelenyi, Alexandra, Fenlon, Laura, Suarez, Rodrigo, Kurniawan, Nyoman D, Burne, Thomas H, Harris, Lachlan, Thor, Stefan and Piper, Michael (2024). Polycomb repressive complex 2 is critical for mouse cortical glutamatergic neuron development. Cerebral Cortex, 34 (7) ARTN bhae268. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhae268
Lynton, Zorana, Suárez, Rodrigo and Fenlon, Laura R. (2023). Brain plasticity following corpus callosum agenesis or loss: a review of the Probst bundles. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 17 1296779, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1296779
Paolino, Annalisa, Haines, Elizabeth H., Bailey, Evan J., Black, Dylan A., Moey, Ching, García-Moreno, Fernando, Richards, Linda J., Suárez, Rodrigo and Fenlon, Laura R. (2023). Non-uniform temporal scaling of developmental processes in the mammalian cortex. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 5950, 1-17. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41652-5
Haines, Elizabeth, Bailey, Evan, Nelson, John, Fenlon, Laura R. and Suárez, Rodrigo (2023). Clade-specific forebrain cytoarchitectures of the extinct Tasmanian tiger. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (32) e2306516120, e2306516120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2306516120
Suárez, Rodrigo, Bluett, Tobias, McCullough, Michael H., Avitan, Lilach, Black, Dylan A., Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura R., Goodhill, Geoffrey J. and Richards, Linda J. (2023). Cortical activity emerges in region-specific patterns during early brain development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (22) e2208654120, e2208654120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2208654120
Suárez, Rodrigo and Halley, Andrew C. (2022). Evolution of developmental timing as a driving force of brain diversity. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 97 (1-2), 3-7. doi: 10.1159/000524334
Kozulin, Peter, Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Richards, Linda, Fenlon, Laura and Suárez, Rodrigo (2022). The people behind the papers - Peter Kozulin, Rodrigo Suárez, Qiong-Yi Zhao, Linda Richards and Laura Fenlon. Development, 149 (3) dev200543. doi: 10.1242/dev.200543
Kozulin, Peter, Suárez, Rodrigo, Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Paolino, Annalisa, Richards, Linda J. and Fenlon, Laura R. (2022). Divergent evolution of developmental timing in the neocortex revealed by marsupial and eutherian transcriptomes. Development, 149 (3) dev200212. doi: 10.1242/dev.200212
Morcom, Laura, Edwards, Timothy J., Rider, Eric, Jones-Davis, Dorothy, Lim, Jonathan W. C., Chen, Kok-Siong, Dean, Ryan J., Bunt, Jens, Ye, Yunan, Gobius, Ilan, Suárez, Rodrigo, Mandelstam, Simone, Sherr, Elliott H. and Richards, Linda J. (2021). DRAXIN regulates interhemispheric fissure remodelling to influence the extent of corpus callosum formation. eLife, 10 e61618. doi: 10.7554/eLife.61618
Fenlon, Laura R., Suarez, Rodrigo, Lynton, Zorana and Richards, Linda J. (2021). The evolution, formation and connectivity of the anterior commissure. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 118, 50-59. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.009
Morcom, Laura, Gobius, Ilan, Marsh, Ashley P. L., Suárez, Rodrigo, Lim, Jonathan W. C., Bridges, Caitlin, Ye, Yunan, Fenlon, Laura R., Zagar, Yvrick, Douglass, Amelia M., Donahoo, Amber-Lee, Fothergill, Thomas, Shaikh, Samreen, Kozulin, Peter, Edwards, Timothy J., Cooper, Helen M., IRC5 Consortium, Sherr, Elliott H., Chédotal, Alain, Leventer, Richard J., Lockhart, Paul J. and Richards, Linda J. (2021). DCC regulates astroglial development essential for telencephalic morphogenesis and corpus callosum formation. eLife, 10 e61769, 1-35. doi: 10.7554/eLife.61769
Vigouroux, Robin J, Duroure, Karine, Vougny, Juliette, Albadri, Shahad, Kozulin, Peter, Herrera, Eloisa, Nguyen-Ba-Charvet, Kim, Braasch, Ingo, Suárez, Rodrigo, Del Bene, Filippo and Chédotal, Alain (2021). Bilateral visual projections exist in non-teleost bony fish and predate the emergence of tetrapods. Science, 372 (6538), 150-156. doi: 10.1126/science.abe7790
Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura R., Kozulin, Peter, Haines, Elizabeth, Lim, Jonathan W. C., Richards, Linda J. and Suárez, Rodrigo (2020). Differential timing of a conserved transcriptional network underlies divergent cortical projection routes across mammalian brain evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (19), 201922422-10564. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1922422117
Bruguier, Hannah, Suarez, Rodrigo, Manger, Paul, Hoerder-Suabedissen, Anna, Shelton, Andrew M., Oliver, David K., Packer, Adam M., Ferran, José L., García-Moreno, Fernando, Puelles, Luis and Molnár, Zoltán (2020). In search of common developmental and evolutionary origin of the claustrum and subplate. The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 528 (17) cne.24922, 2956-2977. doi: 10.1002/cne.24922
Friocourt, François, Kozulin, Peter, Belle, Morgane, Suárez, Rodrigo, Di‐Poï, Nicolas, Richards, Linda J., Giacobini, Paolo and Chédotal, Alain (2019). Shared and differential features of Robo3 expression pattern in amniotes. The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 527 (12), 2009-2029. doi: 10.1002/cne.24648
Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura R., Suárez, Rodrigo and Richards, Linda J. (2018). Transcriptional control of long-range cortical projections. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 53, 57-65. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.05.005
Suárez, Rodrigo, Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura R., Morcom, Laura R., Kozulin, Peter, Kurniawan, Nyoman D. and Richards, Linda J. (2018). A pan-mammalian map of interhemispheric brain connections predates the evolution of the corpus callosum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115 (38), 9622-9627. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1808262115
Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura R., Kozulin, Peter, Richards, Linda J. and Suarez, Rodrigo (2018). Multiple events of gene manipulation via in pouch electroporation in a marsupial model of mammalian forebrain development. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 293, 45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.09.004
Suarez, Rodrigo, Paolino, Annalisa, Kozulin, Peter, Fenlon, Laura R., Morcom, Laura R., Englebright, Robert, O'Hara, Patricia J., Murray, Peter J. and Richards, Linda J. (2017). Development of body, head and brain features in the Australian fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata; Marsupialia: Dasyuridae); A postnatal model of forebrain formation. Plos One, 12 (9) e0184450, 1-18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184450
Gobius, Ilan, Suarez, Rodrigo, Morcom, Laura, Paolino, Annalisa, Edwards, Timothy J., Kozulin, Peter and Richards, Linda J. (2017). Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline during telencephalic development is exclusive to eutherian mammals. Neural Development, 12 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1186/s13064-017-0086-1
Fenlon, Laura R., Suarez, Rodrigo and Richards, Linda J. (2017). The anatomy, organisation and development of contralateral callosal projections of the mouse somatosensory cortex. Brain and Neuroscience Advances, 1, 239821281769488. doi: 10.1177/2398212817694888
Gobius, Ilan, Morcom, Laura, Sua´rez, Rodrigo, Bunt, Jens, Bukshpun, Polina, Reardon, William, Dobyns, William B., Rubenstein, John L.R., Barkovich, James, Sherr, Elliott H. and Richards, Linda J. (2016). Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline is required for the formation of the corpus callosum. Cell Reports, 17 (3), 735-747. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.033
González-Gómez, P. L., Madrid-Lopez, N., Salazar, J. E., Suárez, R. and Razeto-Barry, P. (2014). Correction: Cognitive ecology in hummingbirds: The role of sexual dimorphism and its anatomical correlates on memory. PLoS ONE, 9 (11) e114671, e114671. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114671
Suarez, Rodrigo, Gobius, Ilan and Richards, Linda J. (2014). Evolution and development of interhemispheric connections in the vertebrate forebrain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8 (JULY) 497, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00497
Suarez, Rodrigo, Fenlon, Laura R., Marek, Roger, Avitan, Lilach A, Sah, Pankaj, Goodhill, Geoffrey J. and Richards, Linda J. (2014). Balanced interhemispheric cortical activity is required for correct targeting of the corpus callosum. Neuron, 82 (6), 1289-1298. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.040
Gonzalez-Gomez, Paulina L., Madrid-Lopez, Natalia, Salazar, Juan E., Suarez, Rodrigo, Razeto-Barry, Pablo, Mpodozis, Jorge, Bozinovic, Francisco and Vasquez, Rodrigo A. (2014). Cognitive ecology in hummingbirds: the role of sexual dimorphism and its anatomical correlates on memory. PLoS One, 9 (3) e90165, 1-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090165
Fenlon, Laura R. and Suarez, Rodrigo (2013). Thalamic afferents and neocortical arealization: An ongoing journey. Journal of Neuroscience, 33 (35), 13938-13939. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2859-13.2013
Suarez, Rodrigo, Garcia-Gonzalez, Diego and de Castro, Fernando (2012). Mutual influences between the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in development and evolution. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 6 (NOV), 50. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2012.00050
Suarez, Rodrigo (2011). Molecular switches in the development and fate specification of vomeronasal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience, 31 (49), 17761-17763. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4682-11.2011
Suarez, Rodrigo, Fernandez-Aburto, Pedro, Manger, Paul R. and Mpodozis, Jorge (2011). Deterioration of the G alpha o vomeronasal pathway in sexually dimorphic mammals. PLoS One, 6 (10) e26436, e26436-1-e26436-5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026436
Suárez, Rodrigo, Santibáñez, Rodrigo, Parra, Daniela, Coppi, Antonio A., Abrahão, Luciana M. B., Sasahara, Tais H. C. and Jorge Mpodozis (2011). Shared and differential traits in the accessory olfactory bulb of caviomorph rodents with particular reference to the semiaquatic capybara. Journal of Anatomy, 218 (5), 558-565. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01357.x
Suarez, Rodrigo, Villalon, Aldo, Kunzle, Heinz and Mpodozis, Jorge (2009). Transposition and intermingling of G alpha i2 and G alpha o afferences into single vomeronasal glomeruli in the Madagascan lesser tenrec Echinops telfairi. PLoS One, 4 (11) e8005, e8005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008005
Suarez, Rodrigo and Mpodozis, Jorge (2009). Heterogeneities of size and sexual dimorphism between the subdomains of the lateral-innervated accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) of Octodon degus (Rodentia: Hystricognathi). Behavioural Brain Research, 198 (2), 306-312. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.11.009
Ahumada, Patricio, Astorga, Guadalupe, Bull-Hereñu, Kester, Cabrera, Ricardo, Caputo, Luciano, Carmona, Carlos, Cecchi, M. Claudia, Cortés, Nelson, Cortez, Soledad, Dorador, Cristina, Fredes, Felipe, Guerrero-Bosagna, Carlos, Henny, Pablo, Libedinsky, Camilo, Marcelo, Wara, Márquez, I. Natalia, Martínez, Jaime, Medina, Mauricio, Parra, Daniela, Pohl, Nélida, Pottstock, Hans, Ossandón, Tomás, Razeto, Pablo, Rubilar, David, Salas, Carlos, Salinas, Fernanda, Sepúlveda, Esteban, Soto, Carolina, Suárez, Rodrigo ... Villavicencio, Camila P. (2005). Undergraduate teaching of evolution in Chile : More than natural selection. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 78 (1), 169-170. doi: 10.4067/S0716-078X2005000100013
Conference Papers
Suarez, R., Paolino, A., Kozulin, P., Morcom, L., Fenlon, L. and Richards, L. (2015). Developmental scenarios for the evolutionary origin of the corpus callosum. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
Gobius, I., Morcom, L., Suarez, R., Bunt, J., Sherr, E. and Richards, L. (2015). Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline is exclusive to eutherian mammals and underlies the formation of the corpus callosum. 12th European Meeting on Glial Cell Function in Health and Disease, Bilbao, Spain, 15-18 July 2015. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/glia.22870
Fenlon, L., Suarez, R. and Richards, L. (2015). The organisation, development and connectivity of two callosal projections arising from the mouse somatosensory cortex. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
Gobius, I., Morcom, L., Suarez, R., Bunt, J., Sherr, E. H. and Richards, L. J. (2015). Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline underlies the formation of the corpus callosum in eutherian mammals. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188
Data Collection
Suarez, Rodrigo, Bluett, Tobias, McCullough, Michael, Avitan, Lilach, Paolino, Annalisa, Fenlon, Laura, Goodhill, Geoffrey and Richards, Linda (2023). Raw data for "Cortical activity emerges in region-specific patterns during early brain development. Suárez et al., PNAS 2023". The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/5ccfb47