Neuroscience of Psychiatry

Unit Code

01617

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Molecular Psychopharmacology
Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria
155 Oak Street
Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia

and

Northern Psychiatry Research Centre
Northern Hospital
Cooper Street
Epping
Victoria 3076 Australia

web: www.mhri.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

top of page

Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

A/Prof Suresh Sundram
Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria
155 Oak Street
Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia

tel: +61 3 9388 1633
fax: +61 3 9387 5061
email: ssundram@mhri.edu.au

Alternative Contact:

Ms Rhondda Timberlake (admin support)

tel: +61 3 8405 8880

top of page

Overall Objectives

This unit will introduce students to how we believe the brain is disturbed in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Spanning from clinical research with such patients to laboratory based methods investigating how neurons signal to each other and alter gene activity, this unit will ground students in current concepts of molecular psychopharmacology. From this students will develop an understanding of how these molecular processes influence the development of psychiatric disorders.

top of page

Content

Coursework: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Research: The research projects will focus either on the clinical neurobiology of psychiatric disorders including diagnostic and symptom assessment, cognitive testing and interfacing with genetic research; or they will conduct scientific laboratory research using neuronal and cell systems exploring the molecular changes induced by psychotropic drugs.

Sample Research Topics:

1. The role of muscarinic M1 receptor gene mutations in cognition in schizophrenia
2. Does the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine alter epidermal growth factor levels in schizophrenia
3. How does the cannabinoid CB1 receptor signal in neurons
4. How do antipsychotic drugs interact with signalling pathways in neurons

These projects will be supervised by A/Prof Sundram and/or Dr Avril Pereira

top of page

Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9000 words): 75%
Oral presentation: 10%
Supervisor Evaluation: 15%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics will be assessed as per subject description.

top of page

Student Numbers

Number of places available:
3