Translational Molecular Psychiatry

The Translational Molecular Psychiatry research program established by Prof Suresh Sundram, is evolving as an integrated program spanning molecular and cellular studies, animal behavioural neuroscience, biomarker and clinical research and clinical trial investigations into psychotic disorders. Since inception in 2015, the program has 6 post-doctoral researchers, and 7 post-graduate students contributing to more than 30 research publications, and in collaboration with Monash University, national and international research groups, been granted over $2m in research funding. This will substantially increase with recent approval of two international multisite early phase industry sponsored clinical trials in schizophrenia.

International
- Professor Kazutaka Ikeda, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
- Assistant Professor, Chad Bousman, University of Calgary
- Professor Ian Everall, King’s College London
- Professor KeQiang Ye, Emory University
- Professor Herbert Y Meltzer, MD, Northwestern University
- Professor Sohee Park, Vanderbilt University
- Professor Robert Randolph Blake, Vanderbilt University
National
- Dr Rachel Hill, Monash University
- Associate Professor Olivia Carter, University of Melbourne
- Dr Ilvana Dzafic, University of Queensland
- Professor Brian Dean, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert, University of New South Wales
- Professor Chris Pantelis, University of Melbourne
- Associate Professor Thomas Weickert, University of New South Wales
- Dr Marta Garrido, University of Queensland
- Professor Alex Fornito, Monash University
- Professor Sean Drummond, Monash University
- Professor Richard Kanaan, University of Melbourne
- Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, Monash University
- Professor David Walker, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Phase 1B clinical trial on the efficacy of R13 on cognitive ability (still in developmental stages). Collaboration with Prof KeQiang Ye and Dr Rachel Hill
- Phase 1B clinical trial to test the efficacy of bazedoxifene in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia (still in development). Collaboration with Prof Jayashri Kulkarni
1. Evidence for biomarker development in schizophrenia sub-groups
2. Using single-nuclei RNA-Sequencing to uncover novel candidate genes and/or signalling pathways that are altered in people with schizophrenia.
3. Using genetically manipulated drosophila to understand the function of novel genes associated with schizophrenia
4. Characterizing the behavioural phenotype of betacellulin knockout mice – a promising new candidate gene associated with schizophrenia
5. Exploring the signalling convergence between the epidermal growth factor and immune systems in schizophrenia
6. Regularity learning in Psychosis
7. The mental health consequences of seeking asylum in Australia
Professor Sundram has attracted >$10m in research funding from NHMRC (including as CIA), Department of Health and other Government and philanthropic sources.
- 2016: National Health and Medical Research Council Equipment Grant ($130,000): Portable neurophysiology assessment suite
- 2016 – 2017: Lead investigator - Cabrini Foundation ($150,000): Developing screening tools for mental health disorders in child and adolescent asylum seekers
- 2016 – 2017: Principal chief investigator - Australian Communities Foundation ($10,000): Final phase: screening tool for asylum seeker mental health
- 2015 – 2017: Chief investigator - National Institute for Health Research - National Health and Medical Research Council Grant ($407,716.62): Final phase: screening tool for asylum seeker mental health
- 2014 – 2015: Lead investigator - AMP Foundation Tomorrow Fund ($100,000): Developing a new blood test for schizophrenia
- 2014 – 2015: Lead investigator - Iorine Estelle Demmer and Hugh Eardley Demmer Charitable Trust ($40,000): Developing biomarkers for schizophrenia
- 2013 – 2014: Lead investigator - CRC for Mental Health, Psychosis Stream ($167,000): Investigating the action of clozapine on the epidermal growth factor system: implications for antipsychotic drug action
- 2010 – 2012 : CIA - National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (#628802, $351,438): Investigating the action of clozapine on the epidermal growth factor system: implications for antipsychotic drug action
  Investigator on grants examining the mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs on intracellular signal transduction pathways in cell systems.
- 2005 – 2014: Sole investigator - One-in-Five Assoc. Inc. ($1,400,000)
- 2004 – 2008: Sole investigator - Woods Research Program ($350,000)
- 2004 – 2005: Sole investigator - Flack Trust ($30,000)
- 2010: Sole investigator - Flack Trust ($16,000): Developing a screening tool for mental health disorders in asylum seekers
- 2012 – 2015: Sole investigator - Cabrini Health ($150,000): Is acculturation the nexus that mediates the relationship between depression and physical illness in culturally and linguistic diverse populations?
- 2012 – 2017: National Health and Medical Research Council. Australia Cooperative Research Center in Mental Health, Psychosis ($303,000): Title: Investigating biomarkers of treatment resistant psychosis; Investigators: Pantelis C, Everall IP, Dean B, Bousman CA (CoI), Sundram S.
- 2014 – 2017: CRC For Mental Health LTD - PhD Student Support Grant ($30,000): Title: Biomarkers of clozapine response in schizophrenia; Investigators: Bousman CA (Lead), Mostaid S (student), Everall IP, Sundram S.
- 2009: Lead investigator - Beyondblue ($97,000): Muscarinic M1 receptor, cognition and schizophrenia
- 2005 – 2007: CID - National Health and Medical Research Council ($593,550): Predicting functional outcomes following aripiprazole treatment in schizophrenia
- 2004: Sole investigator - Bristol Myer Squibb ($50,000): Evaluation of a nurse practitioner in psychiatric crisis assessment team
- 2004 – 2006: CIB - Department of Human Services ($150,000): Plasma apolipoproteins D and E as potential markers for treatment response in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- 2008: CIC - Woods Family Trust ($120,000)
- 2003: Award - Neuroscience Research Grants (Pfizer, $50,000): Development of an Australian network of health professionals for consultation regarding health service development (in conjunction with Prof Paul Komesaroff)
- 2008: AusAid ($250,000)

Meet the team

Researchers

Other staff and students

Research Fellow

Dr Jose Agustin Cota Coronado

Laboratory Manager

Dr Chew Ling Linda Lau

Research Assistant

Ms Hayley Darke

PhD students

Dr Tharini Ketharanathan
Dr Sujeevan Sinnatamby
Dr Vaidy Swaminathan

Honours student

Ms Holly Pertile

Clinical Sciences at Monash Health

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Translational Molecular Psychiatry

International

National

Meet the team

Researchers

Other staff and students

Research groups

Behavioural Neuroscience

Sex Chromosome Neurobiology