Overview
Background
John McGrath AM, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRANZCP, FAHMS
John McGrath is a psychiatrist interested in discovering the causes of serious mental disorders. He is the Director of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and conjoint Professor at the Queensland Brain Institute His research aims to generate and evaluate nongenetic risk factors for schizophrenia. He has forged productive cross-disciplinary collaborations linking risk factor epidemiology with developmental neurobiology. For example, John and his colleagues have made discoveries linking prenatal vitamin D and later risk of mental illness in the offspring. In addition, John has supervised major systematic reviews of the epidemiology of schizophrenia. He was awarded a John Cade Fellowship by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. In 2016 he was also awarded a Neils Bohr Professorship by the Danish National Research Foundation.
Availability
- Professor John McGrath is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Research interests
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The association between vitamin D status and brain outcomes
In collaboration with Darryl Eyles, we are measuring early life vitamin D status and exploring if this changes the risk of later developing serious mental illness. These studies are in collaboration with colleagues in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
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The demographic and clinical correlates of psychotic-like experiences
Using two large surveys conducted in Australia in 1997 and 2007, our group have undertaken a suite of studies designed to understand the clinical relevance of isolated psychotic-like experiences. Over recent years we have published many papers on this topic, and have made important contributions with respect to how psychotic-like experiences are associated with (a) an increased risk of later psychotic disorders (based on the MUSP study), (b) depression, anxiety and substance use disorders, (c) a family history of mental illness, (d) exposure to trauma, (e) an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour, (f) general physical health, and (g) help-seeking.
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The Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP)
Our group was one of seven sites involved in the design and administration of the second Australian Survey of psychotic disorders. In collaboration with a large national team, we continue to explore key issues related to the needs of people with psychosis in Australia.
Research impacts
The Epidemiology team are interested in the frequency measures related to serious mental disorders (e.g. incidence, prevalence, mortality, recovery/remission). We are also interested in the clinical and demographic correlates of adverse mental health outcomes – some of these may be modifiable risk factors and thus important from a public health perspective. We use large, community-based surveys, and birth cohorts. Our focus has been on psychotic disorders and psychotic-like experiences in the general population. In addition, we are examining the links between early life vitamin D status and risk of later mental illness, by directly measuring vitamin D (in collaboration with Darryl Eyles and many international collaborators).
Works
Search Professor John McGrath’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Associations between physical diseases and subsequent mental disorders: a longitudinal study in a population‐based cohort
Momen, Natalie C., Østergaard, Søren Dinesen, Heide‐Jorgensen, Uffe, Sørensen, Henrik Toft, McGrath, John J. and Plana‐Ripoll, Oleguer (2024). Associations between physical diseases and subsequent mental disorders: a longitudinal study in a population‐based cohort. World Psychiatry, 23 (3), 421-431. doi: 10.1002/wps.21242
2024
Journal Article
Polygenic risk of mental disorders and subject-specific school grades
Jefsen, Oskar Hougaard, Holde, Katrine, McGrath, John J., Rajagopal, Veera Manikandan, Albiñana, Clara, Vilhjálmsson, Bjarni Jóhann, Grove, Jakob, Agerbo, Esben, Yilmaz, Zeynep, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Munk-Olsen, Trine, Demontis, Ditte, Børglum, Anders, Mors, Ole, Bulik, Cynthia M., Mortensen, Preben Bo and Petersen, Liselotte Vogdrup (2024). Polygenic risk of mental disorders and subject-specific school grades. Biological Psychiatry, 96 (3), 222-229. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.11.020
2024
Journal Article
Quantifying the relative importance of genetics and environment on the comorbidity between mental and cardiometabolic disorders using 17 million Scandinavians
Meijsen, Joeri, Hu, Kejia, Krebs, Morten D., Athanasiadis, Georgios, Washbrook, Sarah, Zetterberg, Richard, Avelar e Silva, Raquel Nogueira, Shorter, John R., Gådin, Jesper R., Bergstedt, Jacob, Howard, David M., Ye, Weimin, Lu, Yi, Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur A., Ingason, Andrés, Helenius, Dorte, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, McGrath, John J., Micali, Nadia, Andreassen, Ole A., Werge, Thomas M., Fang, Fang and Buil, Alfonso (2024). Quantifying the relative importance of genetics and environment on the comorbidity between mental and cardiometabolic disorders using 17 million Scandinavians. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 5064, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49507-3
2024
Journal Article
Pre-COVID life expectancy, mortality, and burden of diseases for adults 70 years and older in Australia: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study
Ciobanu, Liliana G., Baryshnikova, Nadezhda V., Jawahar, Magdalene Catharine, Toben, Catherine G., Sokolenko, Elysia, Arnet, Victoria Kiriaki, Addo, Isaac Yeboah, Adegboye, Oyelola A., Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku, Alam, Khurshid, Alif, Sheikh Mohammad, Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena, Anderlini, Deanna (GBD 2019 Australia Collaborators), Angell, Blake, Ansar, Adnan, Anyasodor, Anayochukwu Edward, Astell-Burt, Thomas, Atorkey, Prince, Ayala Quintanilla, Beatriz Paulina, Ayano, Getinet, Babu, Abraham Samuel, Bagheri, Nasser, Baune, Bernhard T., Bhandari, Dinesh, Bhaskar, Sonu, Boufous, Soufiane, Briggs, Andrew M., Bulamu, Norma B., Burns, Richard A. ... GBD 2019 Australia Collaborators (2024). Pre-COVID life expectancy, mortality, and burden of diseases for adults 70 years and older in Australia: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 47 101092, 101092. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101092
2024
Journal Article
The state of health in the European Union (EU-27) in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019
Santos, Joao Vasco, Padron-Monedero, Alicia, Bikbov, Boris, Grad, Diana Alecsandra, Plass, Dietrich, Mechili, Enkeleint A., Gazzelloni, Federica, Fischer, Florian, Sulo, Gerhard, Ngwa, Che Henry, Noguer-Zambrano, Isabel, Penalvo, Jose L., Haagsma, Juanita A., Kissimova-Skarbek, Katarzyna, Monasta, Lorenzo, Ghith, Nermin, Sarmiento-Suarez, Rodrigo, Hrzic, Rok, Haneef, Romana, O'Caoimh, Ronan, Cuschieri, Sarah, Mondello, Stefania, Kabir, Zubair, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abolhassani, Hassan, Adekanmbi, Victor, Ahmadi, Keivan, Ahmadi, Sepideh, Al-Jumaily, Adel ... Devleesschauwer, Brecht (2024). The state of health in the European Union (EU-27) in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. Bmc Public Health, 24 (1) ARTN 1374. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18529-3
2024
Journal Article
Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
GBD 2021 Risk Factors Collaborators, Mamun, Abdullah A., Anderlini, Deanna, Chung, Eric, Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian Francesco, Kanmiki, Edmund Wedam, Maravilla, Joemer C., Khan, Asaduzzaman, Moni, Mohammad Ali, McGrath, John J. and Sartorius, Benn (2024). Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2162-2203. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00933-4
2024
Journal Article
Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022-2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators, Kanmiki, Edmund Wedam, Anderlini, Deanna, Chung, Eric, Maravilla, Joemer C., Lalloo, Ratilal, McGrath, John J., Moni, Mohammad Ali and Sartorius, Benn (2024). Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022-2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2204-2256. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00685-8
2024
Journal Article
Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Ferrari, Alize J, Santomauro, Damian Francesco, Aali, Amirali, Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd ElHafeez, Samar, Abdelmasseh, Michael, Abd-Elsalam, Sherief, Abdollahi, Arash, Abdullahi, Auwal, Abegaz, Kedir Hussein, Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abreu, Lucas Guimarães, Abualruz, Hasan, Abu-Gharbieh, Eman, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen ME, Ackerman, Ilana N, Addo, Isaac Yeboah, Addolorato, Giovanni, Adebiyi, Akindele Olupelumi, Adepoju, Abiola Victor, Adewuyi, Habeeb Omoponle, Afyouni, Shadi, Afzal, Saira, Afzal, Sina, Agodi, Antonella ... Murray, Christopher J L (2024). Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2133-2161. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00757-8
2024
Journal Article
Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022-2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Vollset, Stein Emil, Ababneh, Hazim S., Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasgholizadeh, Rouzbeh, Abbasian, Mohammadreza, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd Al Magied, Abdallah H. A., Abd ElHafeez, Samar, Abdelkader, Atef, Abdelmasseh, Michael, Abd-Elsalam, Sherief, Abdi, Parsa, Abdollahi, Mohammad, Abdoun, Meriem, Abdullahi, Auwal, Abebe, Mesfin, Abiodun, Olumide, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abouzid, Mohamed, Aboye, Girma Beressa, Abreu, Lucas Guimaraes, Absalan, Abdorrahim, Abualruz, Hasan, Abubakar, Bilyaminu, Abukhadijah, Hana Jihad Jihad, Addolorato, Giovanni, Adekanmbi, Victor ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2024). Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022-2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet, 403 (10440), 2204-2256.
2024
Journal Article
Correction to: Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec, sbad168, 2023)
McGrath, John J., Lim, Carmen C. W. and Saha, Sukanta (2024). Correction to: Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec, sbad168, 2023). Schizophrenia Bulletin, 50 (3), 720-721. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbae027
2024
Journal Article
Closing the gaps in mental health epidemiology—New survey data from Qatar
McGrath, John J. (2024). Closing the gaps in mental health epidemiology—New survey data from Qatar. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 33 (S1) e2014. doi: 10.1002/mpr.2014
2024
Journal Article
Phenomewide Association Study of Health Outcomes Associated With the Genetic Correlates of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Vitamin D Binding Protein Concentration
Kresge, Hailey A., Blostein, Freida, Goleva, Slavina, Albinana, Clara, Revez, Joana A., Wray, Naomi R., Vilhjalmsson, Bjarni J., Zhu, Zhihong, Mcgrath, John J. and Davis, Lea K. (2024). Phenomewide Association Study of Health Outcomes Associated With the Genetic Correlates of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Vitamin D Binding Protein Concentration. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 27 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1017/thg.2024.19
2024
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Steinmetz, Jaimie D, Seeher, Katrin Maria, Schiess, Nicoline, Nichols, Emma, Cao, Bochen, Servili, Chiara, Cavallera, Vanessa, Cousin, Ewerton, Hagins, Hailey, Moberg, Madeline E, Mehlman, Max L, Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis, Abbas, Jaffar, Abbasi, Madineh Akram, Abbasian, Mohammadreza, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abdelmasseh, Michael, Abdollahi, Mohammad, Abdollahi, Mozhan, Abdollahifar, Mohammad-Amin, Abd-Rabu, Rami, Abdulah, Deldar Morad, Abdullahi, Auwal, Abedi, Aidin, Abedi, Vida, Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel, Abidi, Hassan, Abiodun, Olumide, Aboagye, Richard Gyan ... Dua, Tarun (2024). Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Neurology, 23 (4), 344-381. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(24)00038-3
2024
Journal Article
A comprehensive analysis of age of onset and cumulative incidence of mental disorders: A Danish register study
Beck, Christoffer, Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker, Plana‐Ripoll, Oleguer, Dalsgaard, Søren, Debost, Jean‐Christophe Philippe, Laursen, Thomas Munk, Musliner, Katherine Louise, Mortensen, Preben Bo, Pedersen, Marianne Giørtz, Petersen, Liselotte Vogdrup, Yilmaz, Zeynep, McGrath, John and Agerbo, Esben (2024). A comprehensive analysis of age of onset and cumulative incidence of mental disorders: A Danish register study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 149 (6), 467-478. doi: 10.1111/acps.13682
2024
Journal Article
Global fertility in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2021, with forecasts to 2100: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
GBD 2021 Fertility and Forecasting Collaborators, Anderlini, D., Begum, T., Chung, E., Huda, M., Kanmiki, E., Maravilla, J. C., Khan, A., Moni, M., Lalloo, R., McGrath, J. J. and Mamun, Abdullah (2024). Global fertility in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2021, with forecasts to 2100: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2057-2099. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00550-6
2024
Journal Article
Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950-2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
GBD 2021 Demographics Collaborators, Begum, Tahmina, Kanmiki, E., Maravilla, J. C., Khan, A., Moni, M., Lalloo, R., McGrath, J. J., Veerman, L. J. and Mamun, A. A. (2024). Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950-2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 1989-2056. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00476-8
2024
Journal Article
Proof-of-concept of a data-driven approach to estimate the associations of comorbid mental and physical disorders with global health-related disability
de Vries, Ymkje Anna, Alonso, Jordi, Chatterji, Somnath, de Jonge, Peter, Lokkerbol, Joran, McGrath, John J., Petukhova, Maria V., Sampson, Nancy A., Sverdrup, Erik, Vigo, Daniel V., Wager, Stefan, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Borges, Guilherme, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, Chardoul, Stephanie, Karam, Elie G., Kiejna, Andrzej, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Ojagbemi, Akin, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Sasu, Carmen, Scott, Kate M., Tachimori, Hisateru, Have, Margreet Ten, Torres, Yolanda, Viana, Maria Carmen ... Kessler, Ronald C. (2024). Proof-of-concept of a data-driven approach to estimate the associations of comorbid mental and physical disorders with global health-related disability. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 33 (1) e2003. doi: 10.1002/mpr.2003
2024
Journal Article
Publisher Correction: Genetic correlates of vitamin D-binding protein and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in neonatal dried blood spots
Albiñana, Clara, Zhu, Zhihong, Borbye-Lorenzen, Nis, Boelt, Sanne Grundvad, Cohen, Arieh S., Skogstrand, Kristin, Wray, Naomi R., Revez, Joana A., Privé, Florian, Petersen, Liselotte V., Bulik, Cynthia M., Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Musliner, Katherine L., Agerbo, Esben, Børglum, Anders D., Hougaard, David M., Nordentoft, Merete, Werge, Thomas, Mortensen, Preben Bo, Vilhjálmsson, Bjarni J. and McGrath, John J. (2024). Publisher Correction: Genetic correlates of vitamin D-binding protein and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in neonatal dried blood spots. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1741, 1-1. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46199-7
2024
Journal Article
Perspectives on environment and health research in Denmark
Horsdal, Henriette T., Pedersen, Marianne G., Schullehner, Jörg, Østergaard, Cecilie S., Mcgrath, John J., Agerbo, Esben, Timmermann, Allan, Closter, Ane Marie, Brandt, Jørgen, Christensen, Jesper H., Frohn, Lise M., Geels, Camilla, Ketzel, Matthias, Khan, Jibran, Ørby, Pia V., Olsen, Yulia, Levin, Gregor, Svenning, Jens-Christian, Engemann, Kristine, Gyldenkærne, Steen, Hansen, Birgitte, Hertel, Ole, Sabel, Clive E., Erikstrup, Christian, Sigsgaard, Torben and Pedersen, Carsten B. (2024). Perspectives on environment and health research in Denmark. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 52 (6), 741-751. doi: 10.1177/14034948231178076
2024
Book Chapter
Vitamin D, brain development and function
Eyles, Darryl, Cui, Xiaoying and McGrath, John J. (2024). Vitamin D, brain development and function. Feldman and Pike' s vitamin D: volume one: biochemistry, physiology and diagnostics. (pp. 537-562) edited by Martin Hewison, Roger Bouillon, Edward Giovannucci, David Goltzman, Mark Meyer and JoEllen Welsh. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91386-7.00040-4
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor John McGrath is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Mental Disorders and Physical Activity: Epidemiological Analyses using Australian Datasets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Scott
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The antecedents of schizophrenia, a birth cohort study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gail Williams
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
AWARENESS OF MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF INSIGHT INTO SCHIZOPHRENIA: A COMPARISON OF PATIENTS WITH THEIR RELATIVES AND CLINICIANS
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Contrasting the Expression of Psychotic Disorders in Ethnically Different Populations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Mowry
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of adult vitamin D deficiency in cognition and brain function in mice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Burne
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Neurochemical and neurophysiological bases of executive control
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of developmental vitamin D3 deficiency on brain development, immune function and behaviour in the adult rat
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Burne, Professor Darryl Eyles
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The prevalence and correlates of psychotic-like experiences in the Australian community
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr William Bor, Emeritus Professor Graham Martin
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
Startle eyeblink modification: Associations with haloperidol, caffeine and nicotine in schizophrenia-spectrum and health individuals
Associate Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
INFORMATION PROCESSING AND PSYCHOSIS
Associate Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DYSEXECUTIVE SYNDROME IN INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHOSIS
Associate Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
THE ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY OF WORKING MEMORY IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
Associate Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
MOLECULAR CANDIDATES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Mowry
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor John McGrath directly for media enquiries about:
- Brain development
- Neuroscience
- Schizophrenia
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