IMPACT aims to improve health and wellbeing by contributing to the understanding of the causes and impacts of psychiatric, musculoskeletal, metabolic and other disorders.
From common mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, through to chronic physical conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis – we are coming up with solutions to improve the health of people from their first 1000 days of life all the way through to their later stages.
Our seven themes bring together world-class researchers, early and mid-career scientists and postgraduate students to develop innovative diagnostics, treatments and therapies for mental health conditions and chronic diseases.
Investigates new treatments to understand biological pathways in mental illness and physical health conditions.
Conducts research to understand the complex ways in which what we eat influences our brain, mood and mental health.
Discovery-based research that focuses on understanding the molecular basis of health and disease at the individual and population level.
Explores chronic disease patterns, risk factors, novel therapies and effective treatments of psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder and depression.
Seeks to understand and improve the treatment of many of the most common chronic diseases impacting populations across all ages.
Focuses on developing new treatments to help people whose lives and livelihoods are disrupted by complex and difficult-to-treat chronic health problems.
Explores both the physical and mental health of humans across the lifespan.
When you study a PhD or postdoctoral research at IMPACT you'll be supported by world-renowned researchers. Explore over 400 health-focused research topics and discover a supervisor who could help you further your research career goals.
We aim to improve mental and physical health at both the individual and population levels. Our team advance cross-disciplinary, world-leading biomedical research and translate results into real-world medical or clinical practice that benefits the community.
Deakin Distinguished Professor Michael Berk
Director, IMPACT
Our team of over 250 researchers use innovative approaches to translate laboratory medical research into real-world solutions.
Deakin Distinguished Professor Felice Jacka is the Director of the Food and Mood Centre. Her highly innovative field of research focuses closely on the links between diet, gut health, and mental and brain health. In 2021 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to Nutritional Psychiatry.
Professor Tania de Koning-Ward is the leader of the Infection, Immunity and Cancer Theme at IMPACT. She heads a vibrant research team of postdocs, research assistants, PhD and Honours students in understanding the molecular basis of malaria.
Professor Ken Walder is the Chair of Metabolic Diseases in the School of Medicine and the Deputy Director of IMPACT Institute. His research focuses on mental health disorders, and in particular the discovery of novel treatments for these diseases.
We collaborate with national and international partners from universities, healthcare providers and philanthropic organisations to increase our impact. Our research is vital to tackling some of the most disabling and common mental and physical health conditions that we face today.
Over the past two decades, drug discovery has come to a near standstill for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Challenging prevailing assumptions about mental health disorders, Professor Berk has investigated fresh ideas. Now, his team’s research is alleviating distress for millions of people.
While there are many known risk factors associated with poor mental health, we don’t yet know what makes the female brain so vulnerable to these conditions during pregnancy and after giving birth. Dr Luba Sominsky’s research indicates that poor diets before and during pregnancy could interfere with the brain mechanisms that regulate our moods, leading to perinatal depression and anxiety later.
The IMPACT Trials team conducts research into new treatments and novel interventions for mental and physical health conditions. We collaborate with researchers, industry and philanthropic partners, both nationally and internationally, to run clinical trials and research studies with the goal of promoting positive health outcomes in the community.
Our team of innovative thinkers work in universities, laboratories, hospitals and community spaces across Geelong and Burwood.
MRU is a purpose-built molecular facility where our team performs cell culture and molecular biology research. Facilities include PC2 labs, an EchoMRI, echocardiography, histology core facility and a microscopy suite.
MMRF is where we investigate the molecular basis of cancer, immunology and host-pathogen interactions. Facilities include PC2 experimental and support labs for high-end molecular and cellular analyses.
HERB hosts pre-clinical and clinical research in state-of-the-art biomedical and clinical research spaces. Facilities include PC2 labs, tissue culture facilities, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, microscopy and a biobank.
CCMB provides advanced facilities to support our research across molecular, cell, animal and plant biology. This includes PC2 labs, atomic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy and more.
Stay in touch with us to hear about the latest alumni opportunities, research news and much more. Have a question? Get in touch with the team.
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