Overview
Background
Professor Sarah Medland (OAM, FASSA, FAHMS, PhD) is a Psychiatric and Statistical Geneticist working in Neuroimaging and Mental health genetics. Her work bridges Genetics, Psychology, Neuro-Imaging, Health Economics and applied Statistics with a focus on understanding the genetic and environmental contributions to human behaviour and disease. She chairs the genetics working group of the ENIGMA neuroimaging consortium and is an active member of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium.
Primary Appointment: Coordinator of the Mental Health Research Program and Group Leader (Psychiatric Genetics) QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
ORCID: 0000-0003-1382-380X
ResearcherID: C-7630-2013
Scopus Author ID: 34571085600
Email: sarah.medland@qimrberghofer.edu.au
Qualifications
2006 PhD (Psychology), University of Queensland
Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis
2000 BA Hons (Psychology), University of Queensland, 2000 (Psychology Double Major, English Minor)
Availability
- Honorary Professor Sarah Medland is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Works
Search Professor Sarah Medland’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Burden of health comorbidities and associated health care costs in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study using the medication-based Rx-Risk Comorbidity Index
Lind, Penelope A., Hickie, Ian B., Byrne, Enda M., Martin, Nicholas G. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). Burden of health comorbidities and associated health care costs in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study using the medication-based Rx-Risk Comorbidity Index. Journal of Affective Disorders, 414 122397, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122397
2026
Journal Article
Autism traits, ADHD symptoms, and stigma as predictors of social camouflaging in adults from the Australian ASD and ADHD study
Giblett, Matthew J., Lind, Penelope A. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). Autism traits, ADHD symptoms, and stigma as predictors of social camouflaging in adults from the Australian ASD and ADHD study. Research in Neurodiversity, 2 100047, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.rin.2026.100047
2026
Journal Article
Association between polygenic liability to depression and lifetime depression in at-risk adolescents
Byrne, Enda M., Gillespie, Nathan A., Najman, Jake M., Henders, Anjali K., Mitchell, Brittany L., Dwyer, Dominic, Hartmann, Simon, Cavve, Blake S., Amminger, G. Paul, Clark, Scott, Gao, Caroline, Lin, Ashleigh, Schmaal, Lianne, Thompson, Andrew, Wood, Stephen J., Wigman, J.T.W, Yung, Alison R., Medland, Sarah E., Crouse, Jacob J., Scott, Jan, Scott, James G., Williams, Gail M., Nelson, Barnaby, Martin, Nicholas G., Hickie, Ian B., Wray, Naomi R. and Middeldorp, Christel M. (2026). Association between polygenic liability to depression and lifetime depression in at-risk adolescents. Molecular Psychiatry, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41380-026-03917-5
2026
Journal Article
F78. CLINICAL AND GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF MEDICATION USE AND SERVICE UTILISATION RELATED HEALTHCARE COSTS IN BIPOLAR DISORDER
Lind, Penelope A., Parker, Richard, Siskind, Dan J. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). F78. CLINICAL AND GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF MEDICATION USE AND SERVICE UTILISATION RELATED HEALTHCARE COSTS IN BIPOLAR DISORDER. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113473, 113473. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113473
2026
Journal Article
T42. BARRIERS TO RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN GLOBAL SOUTH AND GLOBAL NORTH RESEARCHERS
Medland, Sarah and Renken, Jacobus (2026). T42. BARRIERS TO RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN GLOBAL SOUTH AND GLOBAL NORTH RESEARCHERS. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113299, 113299. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113299
2026
Journal Article
T36. EXAMINING POLYGENIC RISK SCORES AND THE ROLE OF AUTISTIC TRAITS TO PREDICT DISORDERED EATING IN THE GENERAL POPULATION
Kelley, Simone, Laattoe, Rachel, da Silva, Robyn, Medland, Sarah, Collins-Praino, Lyndsey, Baetu, Irina and Cohen-Woods, Sarah (2026). T36. EXAMINING POLYGENIC RISK SCORES AND THE ROLE OF AUTISTIC TRAITS TO PREDICT DISORDERED EATING IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113293, 113293. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113293
2026
Journal Article
F48. BEYOND A SINGLE SCORE: A MULTIVARIATE POLYGENIC RISK PROFILE APPROACH TO PSYCHIATRIC RISK
Ferreira, Andreza, Lind, Penelope A., Moody, Hayley, Hickie, Ian B., Olsen, Catherine, Whiteman, David C., Law, Matthew H., Siskind, Dan J., Martin, Nicholas G., Medland, Richard C. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). F48. BEYOND A SINGLE SCORE: A MULTIVARIATE POLYGENIC RISK PROFILE APPROACH TO PSYCHIATRIC RISK. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113443, 113443. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113443
2026
Journal Article
F80. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYGENIC RISK OF DEPRESSION AND REGIONAL BRAIN ATROPHY IN OLDER ADULTS
Sinclair, Lindsey, Ballard, Clive, Bennett, David, Palmer, Jennifer C. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). F80. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYGENIC RISK OF DEPRESSION AND REGIONAL BRAIN ATROPHY IN OLDER ADULTS. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113475, 113475. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113475
2026
Journal Article
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTORS OF SEASONALITY AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DEPRESSION
Huider, Floris, Crouse, Jacob, Medland, Sarah, Hickie, Ian, Martin, Nick, Thomas, Jodi and Mitchell, Brittany (2026). GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTORS OF SEASONALITY AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DEPRESSION. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 112982, 112982. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112982
2026
Journal Article
W127. GWAS OF COMMON CLOZAPINE ASSOCIATED ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS REVEAL NOVEL INSIGHTS INTO THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF CLOZAPINE TREATMENT RESPONSE
Mutema, Anthony, Painter, Jodie, Siskind, Dan, Lind, Penelope A. and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). W127. GWAS OF COMMON CLOZAPINE ASSOCIATED ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS REVEAL NOVEL INSIGHTS INTO THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF CLOZAPINE TREATMENT RESPONSE. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111 113245, 113245. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113245
2026
Conference Publication
IMPACT OF CHANGES IN DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA ON PERFORMANCE OF POLYGENIC RISK SCORES IN ADHD
Medland, Sarah and Lind, Penelope (2026). IMPACT OF CHANGES IN DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA ON PERFORMANCE OF POLYGENIC RISK SCORES IN ADHD. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Glasgow Scotland, Sep 29-Oct 03, 2026. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113702
2026
Conference Publication
Improving the Prediction of Early-Onset Mania and Hypomania in the Community
Crouse, Jacob, Scott, Jan, Medland, Sarah E., Mitchell, Brittany L., Gillespie, Nathan A., Martin, Nicholas G. and Hickie, Ian B. (2026). Improving the Prediction of Early-Onset Mania and Hypomania in the Community. 28th Annual Conference of the International-Society-for-Bipolar-Disorders, Vancouver Canada, Sep 28-30, 2026. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2026
Conference Publication
Developing and Evaluating a Cross-Cutting "Circadian Depression" Phenotype
Crouse, Jacob, Tonini, Emiliana, Carpenter, Joanne S., Shin, Mirim, Mitchell, Brittany L., Byrne, Enda M., Hockey, Samuel H., Wray, Naomi R., Lind, Penelope A., Medland, Sarah E., Merikangas, Kathleen R., Martin, Nicholas G., Scott, Jan, Scott, Elizabeth M. and Hickie, Ian B. (2026). Developing and Evaluating a Cross-Cutting "Circadian Depression" Phenotype. 28th Annual Conference of the International-Society-for-Bipolar-Disorders, Vancouver Canada, Sep 28-30, 2026. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2026
Journal Article
Robust inference and correlates from genetic associations with personality
Schwaba, Ted, Clapp Sullivan, Margaret L., Akingbuwa, Wonuola A., Ilves, Kerli, Tanksley, Peter T., Williams, Camille M., Dragostinov, Yavor, Mallard, Travis T., Tubbs, Justin D., Liao, Wangjingyi, Ackerman, Lindsay S., Fealy, Josephine C. M., Hemani, Gibran, de la Fuente, Javier, Smith, George Davey, Gupta, Priya, Stein, Murray B., Gelernter, Joel, Levey, Daniel F., Võsa, Urmo, Ausmees, Liisi, Realo, Anu, Estonian Biobank Research Team, Esko, Tõnu, Vaht, Mariliis, Allik, Jüri, Esko, Tõnu, Mõttus, René, Vainik, Uku ... Tucker-Drob, Elliot M. (2026). Robust inference and correlates from genetic associations with personality. Nature, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10992-9
2026
Journal Article
Atypical depression is associated with a distinct clinical, neurobiological, treatment response, and polygenic risk profile
Shin, Mirim, Crouse, Jacob J., Lin, Tian, Byrne, Enda M., Mitchell, Brittany L., Lind, Penelope A., Parker, Richard, Mckenna, Sarah, Tonini, Emiliana, Carpenter, Joanne S., Merikangas, Kathleen R., Wray, Naomi R., Medland, Sarah E., Martin, Nicholas G. and Hickie, Ian B. (2026). Atypical depression is associated with a distinct clinical, neurobiological, treatment response, and polygenic risk profile. Biological Psychiatry, 100 (5), 525-535. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.01.003
2026
Journal Article
Development of a perinatal trauma screening tool: Detecting the silent struggle of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder
Mackle, Tracey, Colodro-Conde, Lucia, De Dassel, Therese, Clarkson, Tessa R., Grasby, Katrina L., Braun, Anastasia N., Burke, Kylie and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). Development of a perinatal trauma screening tool: Detecting the silent struggle of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 60 (9), 815-825. doi: 10.1177/00048674261434407
2026
Journal Article
Genetic and environmental effects on BMI fluctuation across the adult life course and its associations with baseline BMI and BMI change: an individual-based study of 14 longitudinal twin cohorts
Obeso Fernandez, Alvaro, Eriksson, Anders, Drouard, Gabin, Jelenkovic, Aline, Aaltonen, Sari, Ollikainen, Miina, Spector, Timothy, Mangino, Massimo, Christensen, Kaare, Skytthe, Axel, Kyvik, Kirsten O., Medda, Emanuela, Fagnani, Corrado, Corley, Robin P., Huibregtse, Brooke M., Toccaceli, Virgilia, Rasmussen, Finn E., Tynelius, Per, Medland, Sarah E., Gordon, Scott D., Duncan, Glen E., Buchwald, Dedra, Magnusson, Patrik K. E., Karlsson, Ida K., Dahl Aslan, Anna K., Bartels, Meike, Ligthart, Lannie, de Geus, Eco J. C., Gatz, Margaret ... Silventoinen, Karri (2026). Genetic and environmental effects on BMI fluctuation across the adult life course and its associations with baseline BMI and BMI change: an individual-based study of 14 longitudinal twin cohorts. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, 28 (9) dom.71040, 8418-8427. doi: 10.1111/dom.71040
2026
Journal Article
Mental health stigma in psychiatric genetics: insights and recommendations from the ISPG Member Survey on Stigma
Thijssen, Anaïs B., Tissink, Elleke, Sud, Reeteka, Johnstone, Mandy, Josiassen, Richard, Lahti, Andrea, Huckins, Laura, Page, Ariana, Stigma Reduction Interest Group of the ISPG, Smoller, Jordan W., Austin, Jehannine, Zinkstok, Janneke, Medland, Sarah E., Veeneman, Rada and Docherty, Anna R. (2026). Mental Health Stigma in Psychiatric Genetics: Insights and Recommendations From the ISPG Member Survey on Stigma. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics ajmg.b.70029. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.70029
2026
Journal Article
The relationship between polygenic risk of depression and regional brain atrophy in older adults
Sinclair, Lindsey I., Ballard, Clive G., Bennett, David A., Palmer, Jennifer C., For the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and Medland, Sarah E. (2026). The relationship between polygenic risk of depression and regional brain atrophy in older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 41 (8) e70245. doi: 10.1002/gps.70245
2026
Journal Article
The need to consider complexity in the future of behavioral genetics
Wedow, Robbee, Thompson, Katherine N., Medland, Sarah E., Nivard, Michel G. and Neale, Benjamin M. (2026). The need to consider complexity in the future of behavioral genetics. Nature Genetics, 58 (8), 1-3. doi: 10.1038/s41588-026-02668-x
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor Sarah Medland is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Support, Stigma, and Attitudes towards Autism andADHD in Adults and Parents from the Australian ASD and ADHD Study
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic and environmental risk factors influencing mood disorders
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Efficient Statistical Methods for Biobank-Scale Analyses from Brain Imaging
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic determinants of treatment outcomes in mental health: harnessing the shared genetic etiology of mental disorders for precision psychiatry.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Siskind
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic and neurobiological architecture of suicidal thoughts and behaviours: dissecting the distinction between ideation and attempt
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Nick Martin, Hon Assoc Professor Miguel Rentería
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the influence of genetics and heritability on the heterogeneity of ADHD presentations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Naomi Wray
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Motivated cognition and genetics: A psychological perspective on public understanding of behaviour genetics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow, Dr Lucia Colodro-Conde
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of the obesity paradox in diabetes: a longitudinal case control study
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Forensically Relevant Applications of Genome-Wide Association Studies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Nick Martin
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Embracing Complexity in Psychiatric Genetics: Investigating Heterogeneity and Pleiotropy in Depression and Major Psychiatric Disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic influences on substance use behaviour, substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Naomi Wray, Honorary Professor Nick Martin, Dr Lucia Colodro-Conde
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping the Genetic Architecture of Subcortical Brain Anatomy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Nick Martin
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
The genetics of complex human behaviour: Cannabis use, personality, sexuality and mating
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Nick Martin
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic influences on quality of life throughout the life span: Genetic and environmental influences on the variation in and covariation among traits related to quality of life throughout life time and in the aged.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Nick Martin
Media
Enquiries
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