Our Mental Health and Neuroscience team explores chronic disease patterns, risk factors, novel therapies, and effective treatments of psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder and depression.
Our research
Our research focuses on improving mental health and neurological outcomes through new treatments, drug repurposing and the use of nutraceuticals. We research mental health across the life course, from early childhood to older age.
We prioritise treatment development and the translation of research into real-world clinical settings. This includes patents for novel drug therapies, research in nanomedicine and immunology, and biomedical discoveries with potential for commercialisation in the BioPharma sector.
Research areas
Drug safety and discovery
We research drugs in clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of medications such as N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) to help stop tobacco smoking and for use in first-episode psychosis. Bipolar disorder drug repurposing studies include medications like Candesartan, often used for the treatment of high blood pressure or heart failure.
Drug discovery in our research also extends to a range of natural bioactive and biomacromolecules. We explore these by targeting apoptotic and inflammatory cell signalling molecules in cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders.
Neurotransmitters
Our research includes brain neurotransmitters such as Relaxin-3, which plays a role in controlling both stress and feeding behaviours, such as salt overconsumption, that can contribute to hypertension and obesity.
Early-life environments
We have conducted extensive research with twin babies and adults, allowing us to explore the effects of the early-life environment in the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Our research includes conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cerebral palsy.
Prenatal life and neurophysiological development
Continuing our lifespan focus, we investigate the impact of exposure to an adverse environment for the fetus during pregnancy, for example, preterm birth, gestational diabetes or growth restriction. These studies explore both prenatal and postnatal brain development and use a range of novel approaches, including non-invasive brain stimulation.
Clinical trials
The recently established Centre for Research Excellence for the Development of Innovative Therapies for Psychiatric Disorders (CREDIT) aims to develop new treatments that help improve the lives of people living with complex mental health conditions. It combines research in epidemiology, treatment discovery and clinical trials, working with researchers from the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation and beyond.
Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trials Network (MAGNET) is Australia’s first clinical trials network focused on adult mental health. Our network of world-leading researchers, carers, insurers, lived-experience experts and First Nations representatives aims to support transformative research that addresses major unmet needs in mental health by facilitating collaborative, large-scale trials.
Our team
Theme Leader Dr Mohammadreza Mohebbi and Deputy Theme Leader Dr Craig Smith lead a highly skilled team of multidisciplinary researchers and students.
Theme Leader
Dr Mohammadreza Mohebbi leads the Mental Health and Neuroscience theme. As a biostatistician, his research focuses on the development of statistical methods and their applications to epidemiology, biomedical research, randomised controlled trials, psychiatric research, and epidemiological study designs.
Deputy Theme leader
Dr Craig Smith specialises in research about the neuronal mechanisms that drive feeding, stress, and related behaviours. His research focuses on how these behaviours are processed within the brain, and the link between opioids, salt and addiction.
