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Led by Professor John McGrath, the Epidemiology Research Stream seeks to explore risk factors linked to psychotic disorders, with a focus on non-genetic factors that are potentially modifiable.
In recent years the team has been examining the impact of low vitamin D (the “sunshine hormone”) during early brain development and on adult brain function. In collaboration with Professor Darryl Eyles and Associate Professor Thomas Burne, they have developed animal models to examine the impact of low vitamin D during gestation on brain development. The group has established a new research program with Professor Pankaj Sah and Dr Helen Gooch to explore links between vitamin D and voltage-gated calcium channels.
In 2013, Professor McGrath was awarded a prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council John Cade Fellowship in Mental Health Research. These funds allowed the group to explore a wider range of modifiable risk factors (e.g. infectious agents, stress, cannabis, vitamin D), a more diverse range of brain-related outcomes (e.g. prenatal and neonatal brain growth, childhood neurocognition, autism, schizophrenia, other mental disorders), and a wider range of epidemiological samples (in collaboration with national and international groups). New projects include an international study related to psychotic experiences in the general community (Harvard University and 19 other universities). The group has also been extending studies related to vitamin D in international datasets by exploring gene-environment interactions.
In 2016, Professor McGrath was awarded the prestigious Niels Bohr Professorship at Aarhus University in Denmark where he coordinates joint Australian-Danish research focused on understanding the epidemiology of mental disorders and how they impact on society.
Psychiatric epidemiology is the science of counting health-related measures in the community. It asks questions like:
We have a range of projects being undertaken below.
Head
Epidemiology Research Stream
Academic Title-Professor
School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Queensland
Conjoint Professor
Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland
Research Officer
Epidemiology Research Stream
Conjoint Snr Research Fellow
Queensland Brain Insitute, The University of Queensland
Funded by the John Cade Fellowship, and in collaboration with Associate Professor James Scott (UQ Centre for Clinical Research), the McGrath group and staff from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research have linked up with clinicians around south-east Queensland. The Cadence clinical trials program has commenced randomised control trials of new candidate treatments for those with psychosis.
Funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, research focusses on psychiatric epidemiology and aims to promote innovation. The Niels Bohr Professorship is based at AARHUS University, Denmark and in partnership with The University of Queensland and Harvard University.
AARHUS University page for the Niels Bohr Professorship.
Want to know more about QCMHR? Click the button to get in touch with us!
Level 3, Dawson House
The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment
Research and Education, Wacol, QLD 4076
P: +61 7 3271 8660
In the spirit of reconciliation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands in which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.