
Our vision is to build communities free from the burden of disorders of the brain for better health and better lives.
Our researchers and collaborators focus on the prevention, treatment, cure and care of neurological, mental health and addictive disorders. We improve the lives of patients by including and drawing upon our solid relationships with communities. Together, we work towards the common goal of better health and better lives.
Our researchers seek to prevent, treat, cure and care for a broad range of neurological, mental health and addiction disorders. Our strength lies in building effective networks of collaborative research. By working with and alongside patient communities, we can better translate our research outcomes into real-world solutions that improve quality of life.
The UNSW Medicine & Health Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction research theme addresses the burdens imposed by neurological, mental health, and drug and alcohol disorders. We’re a network of internationally recognised researchers and clinicians leading the understanding and treatment of complex clinical conditions with physical, behavioural, mental and social dimensions across the lifespan.
Our research spans the following sub-themes:
Each area is led by world-renowned researchers who partner with other UNSW faculties as well as centres and institutes working directly within and alongside patient communities for prevention and treatment. These include the Black Dog Institute, Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH), National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). We investigate suicide, depression and anxiety, trauma-related conditions, alcohol and drug addictions, cognitive ageing, stroke, neural coding, therapeutics and prosthetics, and much more.
Dr Michelle Torok (nèe Tye) works on suicide prevention. She addresses the current major gaps in the availability, implementation and accessibility of interventions to prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
We aim to address the burdens imposed by neurological, mental health and drug and alcohol disorders. Our network of internationally recognised researchers and clinicians lead in the understanding and treatment of complex clinical conditions with physical, behavioural, mental and social dimensions across the lifespan.
Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction consists of four sub-themes:
The 2024 Neuroscience, Mental Health & Addiction Theme Seed Grant Recipients have been announced.
The 2025 Round will open in October 2024.
The annual NMHA Seed Grant Scheme is an excellent opportunity for researchers who are interested in addressing the burdens imposed by neurological, mental health, and drug and alcohol disorders. Funding is available to support strategic projects led by early-to-mid-career researchers that relate to at least one of the four sub-themes above.
For more information on the 2024 round, please click here.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact:
Rita Zhang, Research Development Manager
UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health
Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction Theme
UNSW Medicine & Health Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction theme closely aligns with the SPHERE Clinical Academic Group (CAG) of the same name. This creates a formal partnership between UNSW Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Western Sydney University, local health districts, medical research institutes and other industry partners.
Together, we support the initiation and development of collaborative groups that bring together research, education and clinical partners to address the burdens imposed by neurological, mental health, and drug and alcohol disorders.
Theme Principal
Children & Adolescent Wellbeing Sub-Theme Co-Leads
Complex & Difficult to Tread Diseases Sub-Theme Co-Leads
Healthy Ageing Sub-Theme Co-Leads
Brain Sciences & Translational Neuroscience Sub-Theme Co-Leads
Neuroscience, Mental Health & Addiction Theme & SPHERE CAG Collaborating Partners
Related Research Units
Contact Us
For all enquires, contact our team: