A message from our Directors:
Looking back on 2025, we are incredibly proud of what our members achieved and the impact their research is having on mental, physical and chronic health conditions for our local and global communities.
Seven years ago, we established our Institute with a vision to bring together expertise across disciplines to improve health outcomes. What continues to stand out is our mentorship focus and the strength of this multidisciplinary approach, driving innovation across the full research pathway from discovery through to translation.
In 2025, our expertise was recognised through significant funding success across our key research areas. This investment not only enables new discoveries but strengthens our capacity to translate research into approaches that can improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the major health burdens.
Our focus remained on strengthening connections across the Institute, Deakin’s research landscape, health services, industry and our broader domestic and international network of partners. The perspectives of people with lived experience also remained integral to our research, with valuable contributions informing projects across schizophrenia, chronic fatigue and bipolar disorder.
Our annual Research Showcase highlighted the value of breaking down silos under the theme From Silos to Synergy, providing students and early to mid-career researchers with an opportunity to present on how collaboration has supported their research.
Excitingly, we saw the successful delivery of world-first trials that moved research discoveries towards real-world applications. This included trials investigating an existing medication as a potential treatment to reduce methamphetamine use and another as a potential treatment for bipolar depression, demonstrating the potential to turn existing evidence into practical solutions.
There was no slowing down for the Deakin Food & Mood Centre whose leadership in the rapidly growing field of nutritional psychiatry was recognised through significant funding, supporting research into the relationship between diet, the gut and mental health. The Centre also brought their expertise to an international audience, presenting at the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research conference in Taipei.
2025 also marked the third year for the Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease Research (CIIDIR), who continued enhance their profile in infectious and immune-related disease across Deakin, Barwon Health and external audiences through research engagement and networking events.
As we reflect, we acknowledge that none of these achievements would be possible without our members. To our researchers, students, professional staff, partners and lived experience contributors, thank you for your dedication, expertise and contribution to our Institute. You continue to create an environment where people can learn, grow, establish meaningful connections and work together towards better health outcomes.
Deakin Distinguished Professor Michael Berk AO (Scientific Director) and Professor Ken Walder (Deputy Director)
Read the 2025 Impact Report
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