Clinical Trials

The Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT) is a multidisciplinary strategic research centre that integrates clinical, epidemiological and basic research with a strong translational focus. We contribute to the understanding of the aetiology and impact of psychiatric, musculoskeletal, metabolic and other health disorders.

Based at Barwon Health, at the centre of Geelong's clinical health precinct, IMPACT supports around 50 researchers and students. Our research focus is on chronic disease patterns, risk factors and novel therapies for psychiatric, musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders, including the link between physical and mental health.

Our current research explores:

Clinical Trials

• Novel therapies
• Biomarkers for physical and mental disease
•  Online psychological interventions
•  Lifestyle interventions
•  Drug safety

Population - based, epidemiological studies

• Incidence and prevalence of disease
• Disease risk factors and outcomes
• Burden of disease and associated costs
• Diagnostic testing
• Health service utilisation

Laboratory - based studies

Novel therapies
Treatment mechanisms and effects of pharmacological agents
Structural properties of bone
Muscle power and balance

Our studies

The following studies are conducted within the psychiatric arm of IMPACT:

• The efficacy of Minocyline as an adjunctive treatment in Unipolar Depression (Mino UD trial)
• Mitochondrial agents in the treatment of bipolar disorder (Mito NAC trial)
• Youth Depression Alleviation Augmentation with Anti-inflammatory Agent (YoDA-A trial)
• Moodswings
• Diet as a treatment for depression - The SMILES trial
• Bipolar Health and Lifestyle Study
• The efficacy of adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (mangosteen) pericarp for the treatment of schizophrenia

The following studies are conducted within the Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing (ECHA), nested within our strategic research centre:

• Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS)
• Geelong Osteoporosis Fracture Grid
• Vitamin D in Pregnancy (VIP) study
• Ageing, Chronic Disease and Injury (ACDI), a study in western Victoria