EMERGING RESEARCHER APPOINTED TO JAMES PACKER CHAIR IN MOOD DISORDERS AT UNSW Joins department with over 60 years research in Psychiatry and Mental Health to investigate Bipolar Disorder
The UNSW Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health is widely renowned as the pre-eminent psychiatry research department in the country and one of the leading university psychiatry research groups internationally. In 2023 it celebrated 60 Years of Psychiatry & Mental Health at UNSW Sydney.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Kimberlie Dean, Head of the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health at UNSW Sydney, about the recent appointment of mental health disorders expert and clinician researcher Dr Aswin Ratheesh to lead the James Packer Chair in Mood Disorders at UNSW Sydney.
Professor Dean spoke about UNSW being home to an outstanding mental health research community with key partners across the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, welcoming Dr Ratheesh
As a leading clinical researcher in mood and psychotic disorders, Dr Ratheesh is passionate about prompt and early access to interventions for people with such conditions.
The appointment comes after prominent businessman and investor James Packer, jointly with The Packer Family Foundation, made a $7 million gift to establish the role last year.
The Chair will lead a new unit at UNSW and the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network that will conduct rigorous research in mental health, with a particular focus on mood disorders such as bipolar disease. The gift also funds a team of researchers to support the Chair.
Dr Ratheesh’s research is focused on understanding pathways leading to the onset of mood disorders and finding ways to provide effective treatments for individuals who develop such conditions. He has worked as a psychiatrist for over 12 years both in youth and adult mental health settings and has led several studies that have helped identify risk markers for future bipolar disorder.
He believes some of the current knowledge gaps in mood disorders include our ability to predict who will develop such conditions, who is at risk of worsening, and who will respond to specific treatments.
Dr Ratheesh currently leads an NHMRC Partnership grant in early intervention for bipolar disorder and is a chief investigator on a Centre of Research Excellence grant in early intervention for bipolar disorder. He co-leads the International Society of Bipolar Disorders Taskforce on Early Intervention and is an Associate Editor for the leading journal, the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. He has received awards from the International Early Psychosis Association and the Australasian Society for Bipolar and Depressive Disorders for his research.
-
Physiotherapist, exercise physiologist support for management of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is commonly managed medically and typically with treatment. Exercise is also essential in the management of osteoporosis but tends to be under-utilised due to lack of knowledge and unfounded concerns about the risk of injury. In fact, optimal care of people with low bone mass, osteoporosis and/or increased risk of falling can and should include targeted exercise to help prevent osteoporotic fracture.
In early 2024, Healthy Bones Australia released a summary of the principles of osteogenic loading and fall prevention, the translation of those principles into clinical practice, evidence-based recommendations for exercise prescription, and special considerations, along with links to several relevant resources for people with or at risk of osteoporosis, falls and fractures.
-
Upskilling & empowering Health Professionals to support preconception to pre-school level health
A new podcast series, developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, is designed to upskill and empower health professionals in their support of parents from preconception through to the pre-school years.
Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days follows the success of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s first podcast series Clinician’s Guide to Healthy Kids, launched in 2023. Both focus on supporting health professionals to have effective conversations on positive health behaviours.
-
Clinical research integrates with GP and Pharmacist workflows to supplement practice revenue
Clinical trials are crucial to the development of evidence-based preventative medicines. In addition, participation in clinical trials can also provide patients with opportunities to access new treatments.
“Clinical trials are at the heart of medical advances which look into new ways to treat, prevent, or detect disease. Volunteers often do so to help contribute to advancing scientific research, knowing that they are participating in the hope of helping future generations,” said Charlotte Bradshaw, CEO and Founder to Evrima Technologies.
