Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT)
IMPACT develops new and effective responses to mental and physical health for our community. We use cutting-edge approaches to translate our medical research from the laboratory to real-world solutions.
Our team of over 300 researchers has a shared aim to improve the quality of life of our global community. We work to develop innovative diagnostics, treatments and therapies for mental health conditions and chronic diseases.
IMPACT is unique in its transdisciplinary and collaborative structure. Our silo-free approach allows us to tackle the complex mental and physical disorders that are a significant burden of disease in Australia, and across the world.
Keen to find out more about clinical trials at Barwon Health?
Click here to watch IMPACT trials in methamphetamine dependence: Dr Alyna Turner, Deputy Director, IMPACT Trials (4 min)
Research Areas
Clinical Trials and Interventions
Our Clinical Interventions theme encompasses research to discover new treatments and understand biological pathways in mental illness and physical health conditions.
Theme Leader Associate Professor Olivia Dean and Deputy Theme Leader Dr Alyna Turner lead a team of passionate researchers, students, volunteers and research assistants. The continuous development of new collaborations and programs keeps our team on the frontline of discovering and evaluating new treatments and responses for a range of mental and physical conditions.
Food & Mood
Our Food and Mood theme conducts research that aims to understand the complex ways in which what we eat influences our brain, mood, and mental health.
World-class researchers from various backgrounds study the food-mood relationship at different levels, from microbiology to public health. Theme Leader Professor Felice Jacka (also Director, Food and Mood Centre) and Deputy Theme Leader Associate Professor Adrienne O’Neil lead the multi-disciplinary team of researchers and students.
Infection, Immunity and Cancer
Our Infection, Immunity and Cancer team undertakes discovery-based research focused on understanding the molecular basis of health and disease at the individual and population level.
Led by Professor Tania De Koning-Ward and Professor John Stambas, our internationally renowned researchers produce findings that are critical for identifying and accelerating new approaches to improving health and preventing diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. The team is also home to the joint Barwon Health and Deakin University Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR).
Mental Health Disorders and Neuroscience
Our Mental Health Disorders and Neuroscience team explores chronic disease patterns, risk factors, novel therapies, and effective treatments of psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder and depression.
Led by Theme Leader Professor Alison Yung and Deputy Theme Leader Dr Seetal Dodd, our diverse research aims to develop new therapies, repurpose existing medicines and explore the efficacy of nutraceuticals that may lead to better mental health and metabolic outcomes, and enhanced drug safety. We explore a range of mental health issues across the life-course, from early life epigenetics to mental health and ageing.
Metabolic, Musculoskeletal and Other Co-morbid Disorders
Our Molecular Medicine team seeks to understand and improve the treatment of many of the most common chronic diseases impacting populations across all ages.
Our team, led by Theme Leader Professor Sean McGee and Deputy Theme Leader Dr Kathryn Aston-Mourney, includes prominent clinicians and scientists.
Our approach focuses on studying and understanding the basic biology of a condition and leveraging this new knowledge to develop novel treatment approaches. We use cutting-edge pre-clinical models and large-scale clinical cohort studies to gain new insights into the molecular mechanisms of disease.
Drug Discovery, Repurposing Therapeutics and Biomarkers
Our Novel Treatment Discovery team is led by Theme Leader Professor Ken Walder and Deputy Theme Leader Professor Wei Duan. Our team focus on developing new treatments for many prevalent health problems.
We aim to help those in our community whose lives and livelihoods are disrupted by complex and difficult to treat chronic health problems. This includes finding new uses for existing drugs, discovering new drugs or drug delivery strategies and finding better ways of diagnosing diseases.
Population and Epidemiological Analyses
Our Population Health team explores the physical and mental health of humans across the lifespan. Our projects integrate epidemiological, clinical and basic research approaches to conduct studies that have real-world translational applications. With this comes the unique ability to describe the epidemiology of physical and mental health conditions in the population.
Together, Theme Leader Professor Julie Pasco and Deputy Theme Leader Associate Professor Lana Williams oversee a diverse team of researchers and students. Our study participants visit the state-of-the-art clinical facilities at Barwon Health, where we conduct physical and mental health assessments. Data linkage with health registries broadens the scope of our research.
Collaborating Organisations
For a full list of national and international collaborators, visit impact.deakin.edu.au
Research Team
Research Staff
Directors
Research Theme Leads
- Associate Professor Olivia Dean, Clinical Trials and Interventions
- Alfred Deakin Professor Felice Jacka, Food and Mood
- Professor Tania De Koning-Ward, Infection, Immunity and Cancer
- Professor Alison Yung, Mental Health Disorders and Neuroscience
- Professor Sean McGee, Molecular Medicine
- Professor Ken Walder, Novel Treatment Discovery
- Professor Julie Pasco, Population Health
Research News
Research Grants
For a full list of research grants, please click here. Highlights include:
- Medical Research Futures Fund - Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trial Network (MAGNET): Michael Berk: 2021 – 2026
- National Health and Medical Research Council - MRFF Efficient Use of existing medicines: Michael Berk, Alyna Turner, Olivia Dean: 2021 – 2025
- National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant - Nutritional Psychiatry: extending the evidence and ensuring translation: Felice Jacka, 2021 - 2026
- Stanley Medical Research Institute - A clinical trial of trimetazidine for bipolar depression in Spain and India: Ken Walder: 2021- 2024
- 2022 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants Scheme:
- Development of a bench to bedside platform for novel therapy development for psychiatric disorders – Professor Michael Berk
- ‘Food, mood and microbes: Improving mental health through diet’ project – Dr Heidi Staudacher
- 2022 ARC Future Fellowships:
- Prefrontal dopamine in the dynamic processes of learning across lifetime - Associate Professor Jee Hyun Kim
- Engineering nanoscale tools for cellular interrogation - Dr Roey Elnathan
Featured Publications
Visit our annual report here: https://impact.deakin.edu.au/about/#flipbook-pdf_1/1/
Support Our Research
Participate in a Clinical Trial
To find out about clinical trials currently underway at Barwon Health, click here.
Donate
Clinical trials require ongoing investment and there are several ways to support this amazing work.
You can make a donation today and contribute to an item on our research wish list, consider a bequest in your will, or establish a lasting legacy fund in your name. No matter what size, your philanthropic support with deliver an immediate impact.
To donate now or for more information and further discuss your support, please contact the Barwon Health Foundation.
Wish List
- A donation of $1,000 - $5,000 can offer us a travel fellowship for our researchers to gain a global perspective and connections.
- A donation of $5,000 - $20,000 may provide a PhD scholarship for a student to explore a new field of research.
- A donation of $20,000 or more could support one of our diverse range of projects or contribute to the establishment of an endowed chair.
Last Modified: Thursday, 27 June 2024
Research Lead
Alfred Deakin Professor Michael Berk
Director, IMPACT
Professor Ken Walder
Co-Director, IMPACT
Theme Lead, Novel Treatment Discovery
Health & Education Research Building
Barwon Health & Deakin University, School of Medicine
PO Box 281, Geelong Vic 3220
[email protected]