Overview
Availability
- Dr Roger Bitencourt Varela is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Biological Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
- Masters (Research) of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
- Doctoral Diploma of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
Works
Search Professor Roger Bitencourt Varela’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens modulates effort-based decision-making and phasic dopamine release in male Wistar rats
McCullough, Sebastian, Varela, Roger B., Houghton, Tristan, Cruickshank, Heather and Tye, Susannah J. (2026). Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens modulates effort-based decision-making and phasic dopamine release in male Wistar rats. Journal of Neurochemistry, 170 (6) e70485. doi: 10.1111/jnc.70485
2026
Journal Article
Melatonin in bipolar disorder
Macpherson, Heather K., Varela, Roger B., Truong, Trang T. T., Walder, Ken, Berk, Michael and Tye, Susannah J. (2026). Melatonin in bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 398 120871, 1-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120871
2026
Journal Article
ATP bioenergetics and fatigue in young adults with and without major depression
Cullen, Kathryn R., Tye, Susannah J., Klimes-Dougan, Bonnie, Wiesner, Hannes M., Varela, Roger B., Morath, Brooke, Zhang, Lin, Chen, Wei and Zhu, Xiao-Hong (2026). ATP bioenergetics and fatigue in young adults with and without major depression. Translational Psychiatry, 16 (1) 158. doi: 10.1038/s41398-026-03904-y
2025
Other Outputs
Unpredictable circadian rhythm disruption in Wistar rats: biological and behavioural changes reflecting bipolar disorder pathophysiology
MacPherson, Heather, Varela, Roger B., McCullough, Sebastian C., Houghton, Tristan, Chawla, Isha, Wang, Ning, Daygon, Venea Dara, Cui, Xiaoying and Tye, Susannah J. (2025). Unpredictable circadian rhythm disruption in Wistar rats: biological and behavioural changes reflecting bipolar disorder pathophysiology. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.06.674601
2025
Other Outputs
Melatonin mitigates oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction induced by interleukin-6 and dopamine in SH-SY5Y cells
MacPherson, Heather, Varela, Roger B., Daygon, Venea Dara, Kesby, James P., Cui, Xiaoying and Tye, Susannah J. (2025). Melatonin mitigates oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction induced by interleukin-6 and dopamine in SH-SY5Y cells. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.03.673920
2025
Conference Publication
Bioenergetic Dysregulation in Peripheral Immune Cells: Links to Anhedonia and Fatigue in Depressed Young Adults
Varela, Roger, Cullen, Kathryn, Morath, Brooke and Tye, Susannah (2025). Bioenergetic Dysregulation in Peripheral Immune Cells: Links to Anhedonia and Fatigue in Depressed Young Adults. The 27th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Chiba, Japan, 17 – 19 September 2025. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Conference Publication
Immunometabolic dysfunction and dopaminergic impairment in an animal model of treatment-resistant anhedonia: implications for bipolar disorder
Varela, Roger, Macpherson, Heather, Houghton, Tristan, Yates, Clarissa, Yates, Nathanael, Daygon, Dara and Tye, Susannah (2025). Immunometabolic dysfunction and dopaminergic impairment in an animal model of treatment-resistant anhedonia: implications for bipolar disorder. The 27th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Chiba, Japan, 17 – 19 September 2025. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Conference Publication
Unpredictable Circadian Disturbance Induces Bipolar-Like Behavioural and Immunometabolic Dysregulation in Rats
Macpherson, Heather, Varela, Roger, McCullough, Sebastian, Houghton, Tristan, Chawla, Isha, Wang, Ning, Daygon, Venea, Cui, Xiaoying and Tye, Susannah (2025). Unpredictable Circadian Disturbance Induces Bipolar-Like Behavioural and Immunometabolic Dysregulation in Rats. 27th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Chiba, Japan, 17-19 September 2025. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.
2025
Conference Publication
Melatonin Mitigates IL-6-Induced Hyperdopaminergia, Oxidative Stress, and Metabolic Dysfunction: Implications for Dopaminergic Dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder
Macpherson, Heather, Varela, Roger, Daygon, Venea, Kesby, James, Cui, Xiaoying and Tye, Susannah (2025). Melatonin Mitigates IL-6-Induced Hyperdopaminergia, Oxidative Stress, and Metabolic Dysfunction: Implications for Dopaminergic Dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder. The 27th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Chiba, Japan, 17 – 19 September 2025. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Journal Article
Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction underly anhedonia-like behavior in antidepressant resistant male rats
Varela, Roger B., Macpherson, Heather, Walker, Adam J., Houghton, Tristan, Yates, Clarissa, Yates, Nathanael J., Daygon, Dara and Tye, Susannah J. (2025). Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction underly anhedonia-like behavior in antidepressant resistant male rats. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 127, 170-182. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2025.03.001
2025
Journal Article
Exploring the impact of childhood maltreatment on epigenetic and brain-derived neurotrophic factor changes in bipolar disorder and healthy control
Possamai-Della, Taise, Peper-Nascimento, Jefté, Varela, Roger B., Daminelli, Thiani, Fries, Gabriel R., Ceretta, Luciane B., Juruena, Mario F., Quevedo, João and Valvassori, Samira S. (2025). Exploring the impact of childhood maltreatment on epigenetic and brain-derived neurotrophic factor changes in bipolar disorder and healthy control. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 275 (7), 1969-1981. doi: 10.1007/s00406-024-01917-6
2024
Conference Publication
Inflammation in combination with metabolic deficits underly Anhedonia-like behavior in treatment resistant male rats
Varela, Roger, Macpherson, Heather, Houghton, Tristan, Yates, Clarissa, Yates, Nathanael, Daygon, Dara and Tye, Susannah (2024). Inflammation in combination with metabolic deficits underly Anhedonia-like behavior in treatment resistant male rats. ACNP 63rd Annual Meeting: Poster Abstracts P609-P914, Phoenix, AZ United States, 8-11 December 2024. London, United Kingdom: Nature Publishing Group.
2024
Journal Article
Anti‐manic effect of deep brain stimulation of the ventral tegmental area in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine
Varela, Roger B., Boschen, Suelen L., Yates, Nathanael, Houghton, Tristan, Blaha, Charles D., Lee, Kendall H., Bennet, Kevin E., Kouzani, Abbas Z., Berk, Michael, Quevedo, João, Valvassori, Samira S. and Tye, Susannah J. (2024). Anti‐manic effect of deep brain stimulation of the ventral tegmental area in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine. Bipolar Disorders, 26 (4), 376-387. doi: 10.1111/bdi.13423
2024
Conference Publication
Exploring the relationship between childhood trauma and epigenetic alterations in bipolar disorder
Della, T. de Souza Possamai, Peper-Nascimento, J., Varela, R.B., Daminelli, T., Fries, G.R., Ceretta, L.B., Quevedo, J. and Valvassori, S.S. (2024). Exploring the relationship between childhood trauma and epigenetic alterations in bipolar disorder. 37th ECNP Congress 2024, Milan, Italy, 21-24 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.nsa.2024.104182
2023
Journal Article
Increasing dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal circuits increases phasic dopamine release and alters dorsal striatal connectivity: implications for schizophrenia
Srivastav, Sunil, Cui, Xiaoying, Varela, Roger Bitencourt, Kesby, James P. and Eyles, Darryl (2023). Increasing dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal circuits increases phasic dopamine release and alters dorsal striatal connectivity: implications for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, 9 (1) 69, 69. doi: 10.1038/s41537-023-00397-2
2023
Journal Article
Haloperidol alters neurotrophic factors and epigenetic parameters in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine
Valvassori, Samira S., da Rosa, Richard T., Dal-Pont, Gustavo C., Varela, Roger B., Mastella, Gustavo A., Daminelli, Thiani, Fries, Gabriel R., Quevedo, Joao and Zugno, Alexandra I. (2023). Haloperidol alters neurotrophic factors and epigenetic parameters in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 83 (8), 691-702. doi: 10.1002/jdn.10296
2023
Journal Article
Antidepressant effect of sodium butyrate is accompanied by brain epigenetic modulation in rats subjected to early or late life stress
Valvassori, Samira Silva, Varela, Roger Bitencourt, Resende, Wilson Rodrigues, Della, Taise Possamai, Borba, Laura Araújo, Behenck, João Paulo, Réus, Gislaine Zilli and Quevedo, João (2023). Antidepressant effect of sodium butyrate is accompanied by brain epigenetic modulation in rats subjected to early or late life stress. Current Neurovascular Research, 20 (5), 586-598. doi: 10.2174/0115672026277345240115101852
2022
Journal Article
Enriched environment causes epigenetic changes in hippocampus and improves long-term cognitive function in sepsis
Corneo, Emily, Michels, Monique, Abatti, Mariane, Vieira, Andriele, Goncalves, Renata Casagrande, Gabriel, Filipe Fernandes, Borges, Heloisa, Goulart, Amanda, Matos, Natan da Silva, Dominguini, Diogo, Varela, Roger, Valvassori, Samira and Dal-Pizzol, Felipe (2022). Enriched environment causes epigenetic changes in hippocampus and improves long-term cognitive function in sepsis. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 21092. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14660-6
2022
Journal Article
Contributions of epigenetic inheritance to the predisposition of major psychiatric disorders: Theoretical framework, evidence, and implications
Varela, Roger B., Cararo, José Henrique, Tye, Susannah J., Carvalho, Andre F., Valvassori, Samira S., Fries, Gabriel R. and Quevedo, João (2022). Contributions of epigenetic inheritance to the predisposition of major psychiatric disorders: Theoretical framework, evidence, and implications. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 135 104579, 104579. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104579
2022
Book Chapter
Behavioral models of bipolar disorder
Varela, Roger B., Dal-Pont, Gustavo C., Quevedo, João and Valvassori, Samira S. (2022). Behavioral models of bipolar disorder. Biomarkers in Bipolar Disorders. (pp. 63-80) London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821398-8.00015-1
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Roger Bitencourt Varela is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Prefrontal Mechanisms Regulating Striatal Dopamine During Persistent Effort
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Susannah Tye
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Circadian mechanisms of mood regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Susannah Tye
Media
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