Research

The Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research conducts research in the following areas:

Research Programs

  • Schizophrenia
    The University of Newcastle is a national leader in cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging (structural and functional), electrophysiology (ERP) and cognitive behavioural therapy, both in substance use comorbidity and ultra-high risk populations. Newcastle will also be the central location of the NH&MRC/NISAD Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank.

  • Stroke
    The CBMHR Stroke Research Program is regarded as one of the leading academic stroke programs nationally. Organised as a translational and interdisciplinary program of work, the activities span experimental animal acute stroke modeling, experimental animal acute stroke imaging, clinical acute stroke imaging, clinical trials of acute stroke therapies, clinical trials in stroke prevention, observational and genetic epidemiology and health services/implementation research.  The Program has strategic links with the National Stroke Research Institute Melbourne and international links with the International Stroke Genetics Consortium.

    Convenor: A/Professor Christopher Levi

  • Pain and Sensory Dysfunction
    The Pain and Sensory Dysfunction program explores the basic mechanisms and clinical issues relating to pain and other sensory dysfunctions, including those relating to hearing and vision.
    Convenor: Professor Bob Callister

  • Affective and Addictive Disorders
    Neuroscience and clinical aspects of affective and addictive disorders
    Convenor: Professor Peter Dunkley

  • Emerging Programs
    The Emerging Programs research program deals with the following areas; Development and Aging (e.g. ADHD, developmental trauma, neuro-degenerative disorders, child development, memory, health psychology, etc), suicide prevention and personality disorders.
    Convenors: Dr. Frini Karayanidis, Dr. Douglas Smith

Research Divisions

  • Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Division
    Basic neurobiological research aimed at elucidating the molecular and cellular basis of brain/mind disorders, including animal models and tissue & cell culture research, and/or basic cognitive science research aimed at elucidating the neural basis of cognitive functions and behaviour.

    Cognitive Science research in this division focuses on evidence obtained from behavioural measures in paradigms ranging from experimental studies on basic mechanisms in learning, memory, decision making, social cognition and personality to applied studies with mental health populations and health workers.

    Links
    Professor Andrew Heatcote - Newcastle Cognition Laboratory
    Dr. Scott Brown - http://science-it.newcastle.edu.au/~sdb321
    Dr. Mark Rubin and Dr Stefania Paolini (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow) - Social Psychology Research Group
    Dr. Miles Bore - Personal Qualities Assessment
    Dr. Kerry Chalmers - Memory and Cognitive Development Research Group

    Convenors: Professor David Pow, Professor Andrew Heathcote

  • Translational Research
    Translating behavioural/cognitive/neuroscience/ genetics advances into improving understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of brain/mind disorders including the identification of risk factors, predictors, modifiers, mediating factors, phenotypic/endophenotypic characterisation, biomarkers, etc.
    Convenor: Professor Pat Michie

  • Interventions and Services Research
    Efficacy studies of drug, psychosocial & other treatments and rehabilitation (ie, RCTs); clinical effectiveness studies (ie, research into the effectiveness of treatments of known efficacy in real-world clinical settings); clinical services outcome evaluations (ie, assessments of the impact of systems of service delivery and clinical guideline implementation); health economics research.
    Convenor: Associate Professor Amanda Baker

  • Population Health Research
    Epidemiological research; health policy development, implementation and evaluation; community education and training evaluation, health promotion and assessment of population-based interventions.
    Convenor: Professor Brian Kelly