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
2024
Journal Article
Genome-wide meta-analysis of ascertainment and symptom structures of major depression in case-enriched and community cohorts
Adams, Mark J., Thorp, Jackson G., Jermy, Bradley S., Kwong, Alex S. F., Kõiv, Kadri, Grotzinger, Andrew D., Nivard, Michel G., Marshall, Sally, Milaneschi, Yuri, Baune, Bernhard T., Müller-Myhsok, Bertram, Penninx, Brenda W. J. H., Boomsma, Dorret I., Levinson, Douglas F., Breen, Gerome, Pistis, Giorgio, Grabe, Hans J., Tiemeier, Henning, Berger, Klaus, Rietschel, Marcella, Magnusson, Patrik K., Uher, Rudolf, Hamilton, Steven P., Lucae, Susanne, Lehto, Kelli, Li, Qingqin S., Byrne, Enda M., Hickie, Ian B., Martin, Nicholas G. ... Derks, Eske M. (2024). Genome-wide meta-analysis of ascertainment and symptom structures of major depression in case-enriched and community cohorts. Psychological Medicine, 1-10. doi: 10.1017/s0033291724001880
2024
Journal Article
Markers of positive affect and brain state synchrony discriminate melancholic from non-melancholic depression using naturalistic stimuli
Mosley, Philip E., van der Meer, Johan N., Hamilton, Lachlan H. W., Fripp, Jurgen, Parker, Stephen, Jeganathan, Jayson, Breakspear, Michael, Parker, Richard, Holland, Rebecca, Mitchell, Brittany L., Byrne, Enda, Hickie, Ian B., Medland, Sarah E., Martin, Nicholas G. and Cocchi, Luca (2024). Markers of positive affect and brain state synchrony discriminate melancholic from non-melancholic depression using naturalistic stimuli. Molecular Psychiatry. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02699-y
2024
Journal Article
Large‐scale analysis of structural brain asymmetries during neurodevelopment: Associations with age and sex in 4265 children and adolescents
Kurth, F., Schijven, D., van den Heuvel, O. A., Hoogman, M., van Rooij, D., Stein, D. J., Buitelaar, J. K., Bölte, S., Auzias, G., Kushki, A., Venkatasubramanian, G., Rubia, K., Bollmann, S., Isaksson, J., Jaspers‐Fayer, F., Marsh, R., Batistuzzo, M. C., Arnold, P. D., Bressan, R. A., Stewart, S. E., Gruner, P., Sorensen, L., Pan, P. M., Silk, T. J., Gur, R. C., Cubillo, A. I., Haavik, J., O'Gorman Tuura, R. L., Hartman, C. A. ... Luders, E. (2024). Large‐scale analysis of structural brain asymmetries during neurodevelopment: Associations with age and sex in 4265 children and adolescents. Human Brain Mapping, 45 (11) e26754, e26754. doi: 10.1002/hbm.26754
2024
Journal Article
Publisher Correction: Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum
Kentistou, Katherine A., Kaisinger, Lena R., Stankovic, Stasa, Vaudel, Marc, Mendes de Oliveira, Edson, Messina, Andrea, Walters, Robin G., Liu, Xiaoxi, Busch, Alexander S., Helgason, Hannes, Thompson, Deborah J., Santoni, Federico, Petricek, Konstantin M., Zouaghi, Yassine, Huang-Doran, Isabel, Gudbjartsson, Daniel F., Bratland, Eirik, Lin, Kuang, Gardner, Eugene J., Zhao, Yajie, Jia, Raina Y., Terao, Chikashi, Riggan, Marjorie J., Bolla, Manjeet K., Yazdanpanah, Mojgan, Yazdanpanah, Nahid, Bradfield, Jonathan P., Broer, Linda, Campbell, Archie ... The China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group (2024). Publisher Correction: Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum. Nature Genetics, 56 (8), 1-2. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01857-w
2024
Journal Article
Genetic analyses point to alterations in immune-related pathways underpinning the association between psychiatric disorders and COVID-19
Monistrol-Mula, Anna, Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Felez-Nobrega, Mireia, Haro, Josep Maria, Medland, Sarah E. and Mitchell, Brittany L. (2024). Genetic analyses point to alterations in immune-related pathways underpinning the association between psychiatric disorders and COVID-19. Molecular Psychiatry, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02643-0
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum
Kentistou, Katherine A., Kaisinger, Lena R., Stankovic, Stasa, Vaudel, Marc, Mendes de Oliveira, Edson, Messina, Andrea, Walters, Robin G., Liu, Xiaoxi, Busch, Alexander S., Helgason, Hannes, Thompson, Deborah J., Santoni, Federico, Petricek, Konstantin M., Zouaghi, Yassine, Huang-Doran, Isabel, Gudbjartsson, Daniel F., Bratland, Eirik, Lin, Kuang, Gardner, Eugene J., Zhao, Yajie, Jia, Raina Y., Terao, Chikashi, Riggan, Marjorie J., Bolla, Manjeet K., Yazdanpanah, Mojgan, Yazdanpanah, Nahid, Bradfield, Jonathan P., Broer, Linda, Campbell, Archie ... The China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group (2024). Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum. Nature Genetics, 56 (7), 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01798-4
2024
Journal Article
Heritability of cerebellar subregion volumes in adolescent and young adult twins
Strike, Lachlan T., Kerestes, Rebecca, McMahon, Katie L., de Zubicaray, Greig I., Harding, Ian H. and Medland, Sarah E. (2024). Heritability of cerebellar subregion volumes in adolescent and young adult twins. Human Brain Mapping, 45 (8) e26717, e26717. doi: 10.1002/hbm.26717
2024
Journal Article
Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder
Nievergelt, Caroline M., Maihofer, Adam X., Atkinson, Elizabeth G., Chen, Chia-Yen, Choi, Karmel W., Coleman, Jonathan R. I., Daskalakis, Nikolaos P., Duncan, Laramie E., Polimanti, Renato, Aaronson, Cindy, Amstadter, Ananda B., Andersen, Soren B., Andreassen, Ole A., Arbisi, Paul A., Ashley-Koch, Allison E., Austin, S. Bryn, Avdibegoviç, Esmina, Babić, Dragan, Bacanu, Silviu-Alin, Baker, Dewleen G., Batzler, Anthony, Beckham, Jean C., Belangero, Sintia, Benjet, Corina, Bergner, Carisa, Bierer, Linda M., Biernacka, Joanna M., Bierut, Laura J., Bisson, Jonathan I. ... HUNT All-In Psychiatry (2024). Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder. Nature Genetics, 56 (5), 792-808. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01707-9
2024
Journal Article
Patterns of stressful life events and polygenic scores for five mental disorders and neuroticism among adults with depression
Crouse, Jacob J., Park, Shin Ho, Byrne, Enda M., Mitchell, Brittany L., Scott, Jan, Medland, Sarah E., Lin, Tian, Wray, Naomi R., Martin, Nicholas G. and Hickie, Ian B. (2024). Patterns of stressful life events and polygenic scores for five mental disorders and neuroticism among adults with depression. Molecular Psychiatry, 29 (9), 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02492-x
2024
Journal Article
Genetic architecture of the structural connectome
Wainberg, Michael, Forde, Natalie J., Mansour, Salim, Kerrebijn, Isabel, Medland, Sarah E., Hawco, Colin and Tripathy, Shreejoy J. (2024). Genetic architecture of the structural connectome. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1962, 1-20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46023-2
2024
Journal Article
Scientific clickbait: Examining media coverage and readability in genome-wide association research
Morosoli, José J., Colodro-Conde, Lucía, Barlow, Fiona Kate and Medland, Sarah E. (2024). Scientific clickbait: Examining media coverage and readability in genome-wide association research. PLoS One, 19 (1) e0296323, 1-16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296323
2024
Journal Article
Evening chronotypes with depression report poorer outcomes of SSRIs: A survey-based study of self-ratings
Crouse, Jacob J., Park, Shin Ho, Byrne, Enda M., Mitchell, Brittany L., Chan, Karina, Scott, Jan, Medland, Sarah E., Martin, Nicholas G., Wray, Naomi R. and Hickie, Ian B. (2024). Evening chronotypes with depression report poorer outcomes of SSRIs: A survey-based study of self-ratings. Biological Psychiatry, 96 (1), 4-14. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.12.023
2024
Journal Article
Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of dizygotic twinning illuminates genetic regulation of female fecundity
Mbarek, Hamdi, Gordon, Scott D., Duffy, David L., Hubers, Nikki, Mortlock, Sally, Beck, Jeffrey J., Hottenga, Jouke-Jan, Pool, René, Dolan, Conor V., Actkins, Ky’Era V., Gerring, Zachary F., Van Dongen, Jenny, Ehli, Erik A., Iacono, William G., Mcgue, Matt, Chasman, Daniel I., Gallagher, C. Scott, Schilit, Samantha L. P., Morton, Cynthia C., Paré, Guillaume, Willemsen, Gonneke, Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., Derom, Catherine, Vlietinck, Robert, Gudbjartsson, Daniel, Cannon-Albright, Lisa, Krapohl, Eva, Plomin, Robert ... Martin, Nicholas G. (2024). Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of dizygotic twinning illuminates genetic regulation of female fecundity. Human Reproduction, 39 (1), 240-257. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dead247
2023
Journal Article
GWAS of dizygotic twinning in an enlarged Australian sample of mothers of DZ twins
Gordon, Scott D., Duffy, David L., Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., McAloney, Kerrie, Adsett, Jessica M., Garden, Natalie A., Cross, Simone M., List-Armitage, Susan E., Brown, Joy, Beck, Jeffrey J., Mbarek, Hamdi, Medland, Sarah E., Montgomery, Grant W. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2023). GWAS of dizygotic twinning in an enlarged Australian sample of mothers of DZ twins. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 26 (6), 327-338. doi: 10.1017/thg.2023.45
2023
Journal Article
Discontinuation of antidepressant treatment: a retrospective cohort study on more than 20,000 participants
Garcia-Marin, Luis M., Mulcahy, Aoibhe, Byrne, Enda M., Medland, Sarah E., Wray, Naomi R., Chafota, Freddy, Lind, Penelope A., Martin, Nicholas G., Hickie, Ian B., Rentería, Miguel E. and Campos, Adrian I. (2023). Discontinuation of antidepressant treatment: a retrospective cohort study on more than 20,000 participants. Annals of General Psychiatry, 22 (1) 49, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12991-023-00480-z
2023
Journal Article
Preliminary results from the Australian Genetics of Bipolar Disorder Study: A nation-wide cohort
Lind, Penelope A., Siskind, Dan J., Hickie, Ian B, Colodro-Conde, Lucía, Cross, Simone, Parker, Richard, Martin, Nicholas G. and Medland, Sarah E. (2023). Preliminary results from the Australian Genetics of Bipolar Disorder Study: A nation-wide cohort. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 57 (11), 1428-1442. doi: 10.1177/00048674231195571
2023
Journal Article
Uncovering the complex relationship between balding, testosterone and skin cancers in men
Ong, Jue-Sheng, Seviiri, Mathias, Dusingize, Jean Claude, Wu, Yeda, Han, Xikun, Shi, Jianxin, Olsen, Catherine M., Neale, Rachel E., Thompson, John F., Saw, Robyn P. M., Shannon, Kerwin F., Mann, Graham J., Martin, Nicholas G., Medland, Sarah E., Gordon, Scott D., Scolyer, Richard A., Long, Georgina V., Iles, Mark M., Landi, Maria Teresa, Whiteman, David C., MacGregor, Stuart and Law, Matthew H. (2023). Uncovering the complex relationship between balding, testosterone and skin cancers in men. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 5962, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41231-8
2023
Conference Publication
Genetics of EEG Oscillations Reveal Novel Biological Insights Into The Links Between Brain Structure, Brain Function, and Behavior
Jawinski, Philippe, Meyers, Jacquelyn, Garcia, José Morosoli, Thompson, Paul, Medland, Sarah E. and Smit, Dirk J.A. (2023). Genetics of EEG Oscillations Reveal Novel Biological Insights Into The Links Between Brain Structure, Brain Function, and Behavior. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Montreal, QC Canada, 10-14 October 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.141
2023
Conference Publication
Characterising antidepressant usage based on electronic prescription records in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study
Mitchell, Brittany, Morosoli, José, Martin, Nicholas G., Lind, Penelope A., Hickie, Ian B., Medland, Sarah E. and Wray, Naomi (2023). Characterising antidepressant usage based on electronic prescription records in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Montreal, Canada, 10-14 October 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.422
2023
Journal Article
Educational attainment, health outcomes and mortality: a within-sibship Mendelian randomization study
Howe, Laurence J., Rasheed, Humaira, Jones, Paul R., Boomsma, Dorret I., Evans, David M., Giannelis, Alexandros, Hayward, Caroline, Hopper, John L., Hughes, Amanda, Lahtinen, Hannu, Li, Shuai, Lind, Penelope A., Martin, Nicholas G., Martikainen, Pekka, Medland, Sarah E., Morris, Tim T., Nivard, Michel G., Pingault, Jean-Baptiste, Silventoinen, Karri, Smith, Jennifer A., Willoughby, Emily A., Wilson, James F., Ahlskog, Rafael, Andreassen, Ole A., Ask, Helga, Campbell, Archie, Cheesman, Rosa, Cho, Yoonsu, Christensen, Kaare ... Within Family Consortium (2023). Educational attainment, health outcomes and mortality: a within-sibship Mendelian randomization study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 52 (5), 1579-1591. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyad079
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor Sarah Medland is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic and environmental risk factors influencing mood disorders
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic architecture of differences in symptomatology and treatment response in major depressive disorder
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetics of affective disorders, personality traits, and responses to treatment
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Statistical Genetic Analyses of Major Depressive Disorder
Associate Advisor
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
-
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: 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
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic influences on substance use behaviour, substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Naomi Wray, Professor Nick Martin, Dr Lucia Colodro-Conde
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Complex trait genetics: mapping, correlation and causation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Grant Montgomery
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping the Genetic Architecture of Subcortical Brain Anatomy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
The genetics of complex human behaviour: Cannabis use, personality, sexuality and mating
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
Media
Enquiries
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