Research Groups
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Clinical Translational Neuroscience
This research program led by Professor Stephen Wood aims to improve our understanding of the biology of mental illness in young people.
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Emerging and Transdiagnostic Mental Disorders
Led by Professor Patrick McGorry, the Emerging Mental Disorders Research team works to develop criteria for identifying young people presenting with non-specific symptoms who are at risk of progressing to a range of disorders such as psychotic disorders, severe mood disorder, mania, and personality disorders.
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Early Psychosis
Led by Professor Alison Yung, the First Episode program builds on earlier work at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre. It is focused on understanding the biological and psychosocial factors associated with the early symptoms and first experiences of psychosis and mania.
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Functional Recovery
Led by Professor Eoin Killackey, the Functional Recovery Research team develops and trials world-leading innovative interventions that address areas of functional recovery relevant to young people with mental illness.
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Digital Mental Health
The digital mental health research group is part of Orygen Digital, the digital division of youth mental health organisation, Orygen. Orygen Digital harnesses the latest tools and knowledge from clinical psychology, computer science, computational technology and user experience design to develop youth mental health solutions that work.
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Mental Health in Elite Sports
Led by Professor Rosemary Purcell, the Elite Sport and Mental Wellbeing Program helps sporting codes understand the prevalence and nature of mental health issues among athletes, coaches and staff, and strategies to improve mental health and wellbeing in elite sporting environments.
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Mood Disorders
Previously led by Professor Christopher Davey, this program focuses on learning and understanding more about depression in young people and how best to treat it.
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Neurobiology and Neuroprotection in Emerging Mental Disorders
Led by Professor Paul Amminger, the neurobiology and neuroprotection research program comprises a number of randomised controlled clinical trials and basic research projects that together investigate the neurobiology of the onset phase of psychiatric disorders and test the efficacy, safety and acceptability of novel biological interventions in youth with emerging mental health problems.
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Personality Disorder
Led by Professor Andrew Chanen, this program focuses on understanding, preventing and treating severe personality disorder. A key part of the activities is the Helping Young People Early (HYPE) program.
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Profiling and Prediction in Youth Depression and Suicide
This research program led by A/Prof. Lianne Schmaal aims to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the development and course of depression and suicidal behaviours.
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Suicide Prevention
Led by A/Prof. Jo Robinson, the Suicide prevention research program comprises a number of discrete projects that together seek to examine the efficacy, safety and acceptability of interventions specifically designed for at-risk young people.
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Ultra High Risk for Psychosis
Led by Professor Barnaby Nelson, the Ultra High Risk (UHR) for Psychosis Research focuses on young people who may be at increased risk of going on to develop schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
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Vulnerable and Disengaged Youth
Led by Professor Helen Hermann, this program aims to improve the mental health of young people aged between 12 and 17 years living in out of home care in Melbourne.
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Time to rethink treatments for young people with depression
Young people with depression are likely to experience cognitive difficulties such as poor concentration, memory and problem solving skills that may reduce their ability to respond well to some standard treatments for depression, a new study has found.