Deakin Distinguished Professor Michael Berk, renowned for his pioneering work in mental health treatment and prevention, has been recognised for his global contributions to the field.
A lifetime of work improving others’ lives
Deakin Distinguished Professor Michael Berk AO, Director of the Deakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health Clinical Translation (Deakin IMPACT), was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in this year’s King’s Birthday honours for distinguished service to epidemiology, preventative medicine, mental health and tertiary education.
Consistently ranked amongst the top 1% of researchers in his field in the world, Professor Berk’s work focuses on bridging the gap between research and clinical practice to provide real-world solutions for those suffering from mental health conditions. His research has discovered new and effective ways to treat disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, often by repurposing existing drugs used for other conditions. Many of his findings have been adopted into clinical guidelines and are now standard treatments that have improved the treatment of mental health conditions worldwide.
Professor Berk is also a champion of the next generation of mental health researchers. He’s fostered groundbreaking research by his team, including studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Lamotrigine, a mood-stabilising medication used to treat bipolar disorder, and naturally derived compounds such as mangosteen extract and N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant compound that has shown promise in supporting mental health, along with many other important discoveries.
One of his team’s most innovative contributions is using stem cell technology for drug discovery and repurposing. By developing a platform using patient-derived stem cells, led by IMPACT’s Deputy Director Professor Ken Walder, the team can identify existing medications to treat psychiatric disorders, speeding up the development of new treatments. This research is paving the way for new approaches to conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
At the time of being honoured, Professor Berk told the Geelong Advertiser that receiving an AO ‘was a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of a lifetime of dedication’.
‘It’s recognition of a lifetime’s work trying to better the lives of people who struggle with mental health, which remains one of the biggest health burdens in society today.’
Professor Berk was among more than 30 members of the Deakin community, including current and former staff and students and alumni.
Read the full list of Deakin’s 2026 King’s Birthday Honours recipients.
The original version of this article can be found on Deakin Together.
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