Academics’ global impact
Influential uni researchers honoured
FOUR Geelong-based Deakin University academics have been named among the world’s most influential researchers in their fields.
Michael Berk, Felice Jacka OAM, Olivia Dean and Alison Yung were included on the 2022 Highly Cited Researchers list.
The list aims to identify researchers who have made the most significant contribution to global research in the past decade.
All four work in the psychiatry field as part of Deakin’s Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) team.
IMPACT director Michael Berk’s current project involves repurposing blood pressure medication, to investigate if it’s the key to helping Australians living with depression or bipolar disorder.
Professor Berk said the inclusion on the list was “wonderful recognition” of the capacity the team has in the Geelong region.
“We are passionate about finding solutions to the most pressing mental health issues,” Prof Berk said.
“Our focus is meeting community needs by discovering and trialling novel therapies for the most prevalent and problematic mental health disorders.”
Prof Yung is included in a duo of Deakin researchers who have appeared on the list eight consecutive times including this year, alongside Professor Jo Salmon.
Prof Yung was awarded the Founders’ Medal by the society of Mental Health Research in recognition of her career achievements, including creating an instrument to assess risk of psychosis called the Comprehensive Assessment
of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS).
She said being named an influential researcher meant the team’s research was having an impact worldwide.
“This means that a critical mass of researchers is studying serious mental illnesses,” she said.
“At IMPACT we work closely with our clinical partner Barwon Health to make sure that the research we do is meaningful for service users and clinical staff. This is essential if we want our research to improve the lives of people
with mental illness.”
Associate Professor Dean is conducting clinical trials focusing on novel interventions and the underlying biology of psychiatric disorders.
She said she was passionate about improving people’s mental health.
“We are committed to working with people with a lived experience of mental illness to ensure our research has
real world, meaningful outcomes,” she said.
Prof Jacka is recognised as the founder of nutritional psychiatry, and is creating health eating strategies to help minimise impacts of mental health issues like depression.
The four researchers were among 13 from Deakin named on the list – the highest number of the university’s researchers included since its inception.