The Mind-Body Research in Health (MIRTH) Laboratory is a team of world-class researchers specialising in behavioural medicine and leveraging the mind-body connection to improve physical and mental health in people experiencing chronic illness and pain.
Our work focuses on conditions such as endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic pain and cancer, among others. We are especially committed to advancing the reproductive wellbeing of women and gender-diverse people through innovative online and supportive care models. Our goal is to transform healthcare experiences from menarche to menopause and beyond.
We use a range of mind-body, psychological and lifestyle approaches to improve the wellbeing of people living with chronic conditions, including:
We're testing whether hypnotherapy works for people experiencing chronic or persistent pelvic pain including endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome and painful bladder syndrome. Find out if you're eligible and how you can take part.
Many women and people presumed female at birth face disadvantage due to their reproductive cycles. Menstrual pain, endometriosis and menopause can interfere with school, work, mental health and life. We use psychological and mind-body treatments like CBT, hypnosis and yoga to improve wellbeing.
Associate Professor Subhadra Evans
Lead of the Mind-Body Research in Health Laboratory
Our researchers and members are leaders across a range of disciplines, working collectively to understand what the mind-body connection means for the treatment of complex chronic illnesses, particularly in women.
Associate Professor Subhadra Evans is the lead of MIRTH Lab and a researcher in health psychology, with specialist training from the National Institutes of Health in conducting research on mind-body interventions.
Professor Antonina Mikocka-Walus is the senior advisor at MIRTH Lab and a professor of health psychology. She is a psychologist with expertise in clinical health psychology, behavioural medicine and psychosomatic medicine.
Dr Marilla Druitt, MIRTH Lab Medical Advisor
Dr David Skvarc, Data Science Advisor
Dr Anna Klas, Data Science Advisor
Associate Professor Melissa O'Shea
Post-Doctoral and Research Fellows
Samantha De Araugo
Yao Coitinho Biurra
Susan Chesterman
Lily Blake
PhD Students
Luanna Dos Santos Silva
Emily Foran
Eleanor Tretheway
We are interested in understanding how painful periods, endometriosis and perimenopause and menopause affect physical, psychological and social health. We run ongoing lived experience studies to learn more about the impacts of these events.
We aim to improve quality of life and reduce pain for people with endometriosis through trials of CBT and yoga. In collaboration with South Australian partners, we’re developing a hypnotherapy intervention for chronic pelvic pain. We’re also creating CoDeEndo, a world-first, free online program combining yoga, CBT, ACT, hypnosis, mindfulness, diet advice, physiotherapy and education to support those with endometriosis.
Our research aims to understand brain-gut interactions in people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome through large-scale observational and experimental studies. We also test telehealth-based mind-body interventions such as expressive writing for distress in people with inflammatory bowel disease and gut-directed hypnotherapy for refractory Crohn’s disease.
The interventions we test are co-developed with our consumer partners and advocacy groups, as well as our clinical and scientific collaborators in Australia and around the world. Some of our consumer collaborators include:
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re interested in our research, want to collaborate or want to stay updated on the latest developments, get in touch with our team.
