Meet our Researchers

Our ‘Meet our Researchers’ series aims to showcase the breadth of  multidisciplinary expertise across MARC.

In September 2025, we feature  Dr Sarah Catchlove, a Research Fellow at Turning Point

1. What is your area/field of research?

My research is largely focused on testing new treatments and therapies for substance use disorders (SUDs). I primarily conduct clinical trials evaluating pharmacological treatments for SUDs, both with and without co-occurring conditions. My research focuses on understanding how different medications can support recovery, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and improve overall functioning in individuals with substance use challenges. I have a particular interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and exploring how these interventions can be safely and effectively integrated into routine clinical care. Beyond pharmacological approaches, my teams' research investigates factors that can enhance well-being and treatment outcomes for people with substance use disorders, such as improving sleep, reducing cravings and withdrawal severity, and supporting long-term recovery strategies. My goal is to generate evidence that not only advances scientific understanding but also informs practical, patient-centered care.

2. What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a range of projects exploring new approaches to treating various SUDs. We’re trialling MDMA-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and PTSD (MPATHY trial) and have just completed a study of cannabidiol for cannabis use disorder. Over the coming months, our team will be launching four new studies: investigating lisdexamphetamine for in-patient methamphetamine withdrawal (the OLAM trial), testing whether a TGA-approved insomnia medication suvorexant can help with recovery and improve sleep in people with AUD post-detox (the SAILOR study), following recovery trajectories in a large observational cohort of people with AUD post-alcohol withdrawal (the EARS study), and exploring the feasibility of psilocybin-assisted therapy for co-morbid depression and AUD (PANDA). Together, these projects aim to broaden treatment options and examine how innovative therapies can be translated into routine care.

3. How is your research improving the lives of people living with addiction?

My research is dedicated to improving the lives of people living with addiction by developing and testing evidence-based treatments that expand the options available for recovery. By trialling new pharmacological therapies and exploring innovative approaches such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, our work aims to improve outcomes by reducing cravings, easing withdrawal, treating co-occurring mental health conditions, and supporting long-term recovery. We also look at improving practical factors—such as improving sleep and wellbeing, and integrating treatments for comorbid conditions—that can make recovery more sustainable. Ultimately, the goal is to translate these findings into routine care, giving people affected by addiction access to treatments that are effective, compassionate, and tailored to their needs, making recovery more accessible and sustainable.

4. What are the most exciting developments in your field today?

To me, one of the most exciting developments in my field is the growing evidence for psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT), particularly now in Australia following their rescheduling, which has led to a surge in both research and clinical uptake. Alongside this, innovative pharmacological treatments—such as new medications to reduce cravings or ease withdrawal—are expanding the tools available to support recovery. Advances in technology are also transforming how we study addiction, with tools like at-home sleep monitoring and mobile health data collection enabling more precise psychophysiological and expanding capacity for observational research. Combined with harm reduction strategies and efforts to make treatment more accessible, these developments are helping to create safer, more personalised, and impactful ways to support recovery from addiction.

In July 2025, we feature Dr Alene Yong, Research Fellow in the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University

1. What is your area/field of research?
My research focuses mainly on evidence review and synthesis. The evidence generated is used to support delivery of health services and implement evidence-based practices. I have worked on a range of public health projects, including health financing in low-resource settings, patient navigation in cancer care, and barriers to accessing health services. Currently, I focus on assessing evidence for new and emerging treatments in mental health and translating this evidence into clinical practice guidelines.

2. What are you currently working on?
I’m currently developing Australia’s first clinical practice guideline for the appropriate use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) for people living with post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical use of psychedelic-assisted therapy for certain mental health conditions has been legalised in Australia since July 2023. However, there are no marketed products for both MDMA and psilocybin. This means the safety and efficacy profile of MDMA-AP has not been established through the routine drug approval pathway. Hence, there is a need for evidence-based recommendations on the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy, which consider the local contexts. I’m also working on how these guidelines can be implemented in practice to ensure they are adopted effectively in real world.

3. How is your research improving the lives of people living with addiction?
Translation of psychedelic-assisted therapy from clinical trials into community clinics is challenging due to the uncertainties around clinical trial evidence, particularly on the long-term safety and the potential risk of misuse of psychedelics. This is particularly important for people with mental health conditions, many of whom also experience comorbid alcohol or substance use disorders. Through the guideline development process, we systematically evaluate and interpret the available evidence to provide standardised guidance on the use of MDMA-AP. The Guideline also considers the needs of diverse populations, including people who may be at higher risk of substance use, ensuring these emerging treatments are introduced safely and appropriately.

4. What are the most exciting developments in your field today?
One of the most exciting developments is the growing number of clinical trials investigating psychedelic-assisted therapy for a broader range of mental health conditions, including alcohol use disorders, opioid use disorders, and anxiety disorders. At the same time, the regulatory landscape is evolving- for example, New Zealand recently legalised the use of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. In Australia, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may consider funding psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions. It will be fascinating to see how our Guidelines inform clinical practice and funding decisions.

Our ‘Meet our Researchers’ series aims to showcase the breadth of  multidisciplinary expertise across MARC.

This month we feature Dr Dan Fehring, Research Fellow in the Addiction and Impulsivity Lab at Monash University

1. What is your area of research?

I specialise in non-invasive neuromodulation, a field that uses various technologies to directly modulate brain activity without surgery. It leverages devices that create specific electrical, magnetic, or sound fields that can affect brain cells, either to excite or inhibit activity in specific areas or networks. With a background in physiology and cognitive neuroscience, I apply these tools to investigate and recalibrate the brain networks disrupted in various conditions, including addiction. This approach, increasingly referred to as brain circuit therapeutics, aims to shift the focus of treatment from managing symptoms to directly recalibrating brain function.

2. What are you currently working on?

I am currently involved in a clinical trial designed to evaluate whether individualized brain stimulation can reduce alcohol consumption in people with alcohol use disorder. This trial takes a novel approach: combining brain imaging and computational modelling to map each participant’s unique pattern of neural connectivity, then applying subtype-matched stimulation tailored to recalibrate these patterns. This approach is part of a broader move toward precision approaches, where interventions are guided not just by diagnostic categories, but by the unique brain circuit patterns that shape each person’s lived experience.

3. How is your research improving the lives of people living with addiction?

Despite the availability of some pharmacological and psychological treatments, many individuals with alcohol use disorder experience limited benefit, potentially as these treatments may not directly target the disrupted neural circuitry that drives the condition. Non-invasive neuromodulation offers a way to directly influence the neurobiological basis of addiction by targeting these neural circuits directly. Moreover, by tailoring non-invasive brain stimulation to an individual’s unique pattern of neural connectivity, we increase its potential to be more effective, potentially leading to more targeted and effective outcomes than traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.

4. What are the most exciting developments in your field today?

A major development in my field is the rise of brain circuit therapeutics, an approach focused on identifying and recalibrating the specific brain networks disrupted in a condition and responsible for particular symptoms, such as craving. Instead of relying solely on broad diagnostic categories, this approach targets the underlying neural dysfunction directly. This shift is paving the way for more targeted, effective, and personalized treatments.

We are pleased to recognise Dr Ting Xia, Dr Tina Lam and Dr Louisa Picco as new Research Program Leads at MARC.

Meet the Researchers - This month we feature Dr Brian Vandenberg to find out more about his work.

Dr. Brian Vandenberg is a researcher in public health, with a focus on addictive behaviours. His research interests have been shaped from working in the government and non-government sector as a policy advisor and policy advocate on alcohol and drug prevention and tobacco control. Brian completed his PhD in health economics a few years ago, and since graduating has been working in the Behavioural Sciences Research Lab in the School of Social Sciences.

1. What is your area of research?

It's been just a few years since I completed my PhD in health economics at Monash. Since graduating, I have been working in the Behavioural Sciences Research Lab in the School of Social Sciences with Professor Kerry O’Brien. My broad area of research is public health, but with a focus on addictive behaviours. My research interests have been shaped from working in the government and non-government sector as a policy advisor and policy advocate on alcohol and drug prevention and tobacco control.

2. What are you currently working at the moment?

My current research includes looking at how gambling can impact socio-economic disadvantage, and vice versa. The link between gambling and homelessness is a particular interest of mine. I also investigate how economic factors impact alcohol use, particularly how prices and taxes affect drinking, and also how changing economic conditions over time and between locations affect drinking.

I have recently started co-supervision of some PhD candidates at Monash. This has been a really enjoyable experience as I have recently completed my own PhD, so I feel that I can relate well to the candidates and offer them some practical advice from my first-hand experience of doing a PhD very recently.

3. How is your area of research improving the lives of those people living with addiction/mental health?

The aim of my research on alcohol pricing and taxation policies is to show policy makers that these can potentially be very effective population wide interventions that reduce drinking and the risk of harm. We have seen the Northern Territory government introduce policies in this area over recent years, and I hope to continue doing research that will persuade other jurisdictions in Australia to take similar steps.

My research on the link between gambling and homelessness has shown that older people are particularly vulnerable, but that harm is often preventable. A great deal of the harm can be avoided through measures that address poverty and housing insecurity, and also by supporting individuals with gambling issues. I hope to continue to promote the findings of my research in this area so that policy makers and services providers take action.

4. What are the most interesting developments in your field today?

I think two interesting developments in the alcohol policy field are the recent strengthening of scientific evidence on how alcohol pricing policies can reduce harm and improve public health, and also the growing evidence showing how the alcohol industry is continuing to attack scientifically-based efforts at reducing harm. I’ve seen the industry tactics first hand in my own past work as a policy advisor and policy advocate, and so it's really encouraging to see some research laying bare the evidence on how the alcohol industry operates. I’m optimistic that policy-making bodies will start to do more to protect public health policy processes from industry influence.

Our ‘Meet our Researchers’ series aims to showcase the breadth of expertise across MARC. In May 2021 we featured MARC A/Prof Philip Mendes, to find out more about his work.

Associate Professor Philip Mendes is the Director of the Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit (SISPRU). He has published widely on a range of social policy and community development debates, including young people transitioning from out-of-home care, globalisation and the welfare state, compulsory income management, illicit drug policies, Indigenous social policy, and social workers and policy practice.

1. What is your area of research?

My research has a particular focus on the fields of income support, young people transitioning from state out-of-home care, social workers and policy practice, community development and illicit drugs. In the area of income support, I have examined the principal arguments for and against compulsory income management. My recent paper Is conditional welfare an effective means for reducing alcohol and drug abuse? An exploration of compulsory income management across four Australian trial sites examined income management participants and found that while income management seeks to reduce the impact of anti-social behaviour associated with AOD, by restricting access to someone’s finances, it risks having the opposite effect.  The Australian illicit drugs policy debate is another area of study I have examined. The philosophical debate between prohibition and harm-reduction groups is an area of disagreement that seems to be linked to the Victorian Liberal-National Coalition's long-standing rejection of a supervised injecting facility.

2. What are you currently working on at the moment?

My research is examining the recent announcement by the Victorian government to extend out-of-home care (OOHC) until 21 years of age. The research will be assessing the impact of universal extended care and identify whether discrete groups of care leavers – those with a disability, those leaving residential care, those who are young parents, and Indigenous care leavers – may need additional or specialised assistance.  My research into the philosophical debate between prohibition and harm reduction groups is continuing through an exploration into how and why social conservatives oppose harm reduction by comparing the Victorian parliamentary debates on Supervised Injecting Facilities (SIF) from 2000 and 2018. Compulsory Income management is another area of research I am involved in.

On 17 December 2020, the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Act 2020 received Royal assent. The Act supports the continuation of the Cashless Debit Card for a further two years in the East Kimberley, Ceduna, Goldfields and Bundaberg and Hervey Bay regions until 31 December 2022. My previous research has found that while Compulsory Income Management purports to combat addiction by reducing access to cash, alcohol and gambling services, Compulsory Income Management has fallen short of these intentions.

3. How is your area of research improving the lives of those people living with addiction/mental health?

My research on conditional welfare as an effective means for reducing alcohol and drug abuse concluded that there is little evidence to support the view that IM per se contributes to a significant reduction in alcohol and drug abuse.

People who inject drugs are at high risk for infectious diseases, skin and soft tissue infections, and overdose. However, these harms are all avoidable when sterile injection equipment, hygienic places to inject, and medical care are accessible. My research into the SIF debate in Victoria has direct implications for the wellbeing of injecting drug users as it concluded that the risk of infectious diseases are avoidable when sterile injection equipment, hygienic places to inject, and medical care are accessible. Furthermore, my research has identified poorly planned transitions as a cause of alcohol and drug abuse.

4. What are the most interesting developments in your field today?

The very recent extension of OOHC up to 21 years in Victoria and WA and for most groups in the ACT, SA and Tasmania has addressed a major deficit within Australian jurisdictions. There is now an opportunity to examine the impact of extended care, its benefits, and additional support may be required to improve outcomes for a particularly vulnerable group. This includes those leaving residential care, leaving youth justice custody, those that are pregnant or have mental health concerns, and Indigenous youth who are disconnected from their culture or community.

Our ‘Meet our Researchers’ series aims to showcase the breadth of expertise across MARC, including our PhD students. In April 2021 we featured MARC PhD candidate Dr Pallavi Prathivadi, to find out more about her work.

1. What is the title/focus of your PhD?

Improving opioid prescribing in Australian general practice: knowledge, attitudes and opioid prescribing practices of GPs

2. What is your research about?

Understanding the factors influencing the opioid prescribing decisions of Australian GPs (particularly where the opioids are not evidence based) and exploring current GP opioid prescribing attitudes and practices. This will help guide future GP-targeted opioid prescribing interventions. As a practicing GP, I have firsthand knowledge and appreciation of the complexity of general practice, and aim to help GPs deliver evidence-based and patient-centred chronic pain management while respecting the autonomy of GPs.

3. What has been a positive outcome from your work so far?

Some of my research was noticed by the Australian Government Department of Finance (DoF), and my supervisor and I were invited to present my work and outcomes to representatives from the DoF Health Division. I’ve also received (unexpected!) interest in my publications and some wonderful emails and networking opportunities as a result of other GPs and researchers reading my work and wanting to know more. Excitedly, one of the MJA perspective pieces I co-wrote with A/Prof Suzi Neilsen was press-released by the MJA and featured in several other journals and magazines!

4. What are some interesting developments in your area of research?

The current climate of opioid prescribing policy and practice is changing very rapidly, so there are many big developments. Since I started my PhD in 2018, Victoria has introduced a mandatory real-time prescription monitoring service (2018), the Therapeutic Goods Administration introduced several opioid prescribing restrictions and requirements (2019-2020), the Australian government held a nation-wide ‘nudge’ campaign to notify opioid high prescribers (2018), and the Therapeutic Guidelines published a new Pain and Analgesia guideline (2020). All of these are very relevant to my research and clinical practice!