
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
2018
Conference Publication
The association between adolescent psychopathology and subsequent physical activity in young adulthood: A 21-year birth cohort study
Suetani, S., Mamun, A., Williams, G., Najman, J., McGrath, J. and Scott, J. (2018). The association between adolescent psychopathology and subsequent physical activity in young adulthood: A 21-year birth cohort study. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2018
Conference Publication
Longitudinal association between physical activity engagement during adolescence and mental health outcomes in young adults: A 21-year birth cohort study
Suetani, S., Mamun, A., Williams, G., Najman, J., McGrath, J. and Scott, J. (2018). Longitudinal association between physical activity engagement during adolescence and mental health outcomes in young adults: A 21-year birth cohort study. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2018
Book Chapter
Psychotic experiences
McGrath, John J., Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Gureje, Oye and Florescu, Silvia (2018). Psychotic experiences. Mental disorders around the world: facts and figures from the WHO World Mental Health surveys. (pp. 286-296) edited by Kate M. Scott, Peter de Jonge, Dan J. Stein and Ronald C. Kessler. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316336168.019
2017
Journal Article
Childhood Infections and Subsequent School Achievement Among 598,553 Danish Children
Köhler-Forsberg, Ole, Sørensen, Holger J., Nordentoft, Merete, McGrath, John J., Benros, Michael E. and Petersen, Liselotte (2017). Childhood Infections and Subsequent School Achievement Among 598,553 Danish Children. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 37 (8), 1-737. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001869
2017
Journal Article
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) as a marker of cognitive decline in normal ageing: A review
Frater, Julanne, Lie, David, Bartlett, Perry and McGrath, John J. (2017). Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) as a marker of cognitive decline in normal ageing: A review. Ageing Research Reviews, 42, 14-27. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2017.12.002
2017
Journal Article
Hair Cortisol in Twins: Heritability and Genetic Overlap with Psychological Variables and Stress-System Genes
Rietschel, Liz, Streit, Fabian, Zhu, Gu, McAloney, Kerrie, Frank, Josef, Couvy-Duchesne, Baptiste, Witt, Stephanie H., Binz, Tina M., Bolton, Jennifer L., Hayward, Caroline, Direk, Nese, Anderson, Anna, Huffman, Jennifer, Wilson, James F., Campbell, Harry, Rudan, Igor, Wright, Alan, Hastie, Nicholas, Wild, Sarah H., Velders, Fleur P., Hofman, Albert, Uitterlinden, Andre G., Lahti, Jari, Räikkönen, Katri, Kajantie, Eero, Widen, Elisabeth, Palotie, Aarno, Eriksson, Johan G., Kaakinen, Marika ... Rietschel, Marcella (2017). Hair Cortisol in Twins: Heritability and Genetic Overlap with Psychological Variables and Stress-System Genes. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 15351, 15351. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-11852-3
2017
Journal Article
Trauma and psychotic experiences: transnational data from the World Mental Health Survey
McGrath, John J., Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura H., Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, de Almeida, José M. Caldas, Cardoso, Graça, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Fayyad, John, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., Kawakami, Norito, Medina-Mora, Karestan C., Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Ojagbemi, Akin, Posada-Villa, Jose, Sampson, Nancy, Scott, Kate M., Tachimori, Hisateru, ten Have, Margreet, Kendler, Kenneth S. and Kessler, Ronald C. (2017). Trauma and psychotic experiences: transnational data from the World Mental Health Survey. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 211 (5), 1-8. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.117.205955
2017
Journal Article
Longitudinal association between physical activity engagement during adolescence and mental health outcomes in young adults: A 21-year birth cohort study
Suetani, Shuichi , Mamun, Abdullah, Williams, Gail M. , Najman, Jake M. , McGrath, John J. and Scott, James G. (2017). Longitudinal association between physical activity engagement during adolescence and mental health outcomes in young adults: A 21-year birth cohort study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 94, 116-123. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.06.013
2017
Journal Article
Erratum: Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys (Psychological medicine (2016) 46 14 (2955-2970))
Auerbach, R. P., Alonso, J., Axinn, W. G., Cuijpers, P., Ebert, D. D., Green, J. G., Hwang, I., Kessler, R. C., Liu, H., Mortier, P., Nock, M. K., Pinder-Amaker, S., Sampson, N. A., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Andrade, L. H., Benjet, C., Caldas-de-Almeida, J. M., Demyttenaere, K., Florescu, S., de Girolamo, G., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., Karam, E. G., Kiejna, A., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lee, S., McGrath, J. J., O'Neill, S. ... Bruffaerts, R. (2017). Erratum: Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys (Psychological medicine (2016) 46 14 (2955-2970)). Psychological Medicine, 47 (15), 2737-2737. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717001039
2017
Journal Article
Erratum: Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (The Lancet (2017) 390(10100) (1423–1459) (S014067361732336X) (10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X))
Fullman, Nancy, Barber, Ryan M, Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abdulle, Abdishakur M, Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M E, Adedeji, Isaac Akinkunmi, Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afshin, Ashkan, Agrawal, Anurag, Agrawal, Sutapa, Ahmad Kiadaliri, Aliasghar, Ahmadieh, Hamid, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Aiyar, Sneha, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Akseer, Nadia, Al-Aly, Ziyad, Alam, Khurshid ... Murray, Christopher J L (2017). Erratum: Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (The Lancet (2017) 390(10100) (1423–1459) (S014067361732336X) (10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X)). The Lancet, 390 (10106). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32650-8
2017
Journal Article
Erratum:Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (The Lancet (2017) 390(10100) (1423–1459) (S014067361732336X)(10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X))
Fullman, Nancy, Barber, Ryan M., Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M., Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abdulle, Abdishakur M., Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J., Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E., Adedeji, Isaac Akinkunmi, Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afshin, Ashkan, Agrawal, Anurag, Agrawal, Sutapa, Ahmad Kiadaliri, Aliasghar, Ahmadieh, Hamid, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Aiyar, Sneha, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Akseer, Nadia, Al-Aly, Ziyad, Alam, Khurshid ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2017). Erratum:Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (The Lancet (2017) 390(10100) (1423–1459) (S014067361732336X)(10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X)). The Lancet, 390 (10102). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32441-8
2017
Journal Article
The iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample: new directions for unravelling genetic and environmental architectures of severe mental disorders
Pedersen, C. B., Bybjerg-Grauholm, J., Pedersen, M. G., Grove, J., Agerbo, E., Baekvad-Hansen, M., Poulsen, J. B., Hansen, C. S., McGrath, J. J., Als, T. D., Goldstein, J. I., Neale, B. M., Daly, M. J., Hougaard, D. M., Mors, O., Nordentoft, M., Borglum, A. D., Werge, T. and Mortensen, P. B. (2017). The iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample: new directions for unravelling genetic and environmental architectures of severe mental disorders. Molecular Psychiatry, 23 (1), 6-14. doi: 10.1038/mp.2017.196
2017
Journal Article
Adult vitamin D deficiency exacerbates impairments caused by social stress in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice
Groves, Natalie J., Zhou, Mei, Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2017). Adult vitamin D deficiency exacerbates impairments caused by social stress in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 86, 53-63. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.003
2017
Journal Article
Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Fullman, Nancy, Barber, Ryan M., Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M., Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abdulle, Abdishakur M., Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J., Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E., Adedeji, Isaac Akinkunmi, Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afshin, Ashkan, Agrawal, Anurag, Agrawal, Sutapa, Ahmad Kiadaliri, Aliasghar, Ahmadieh, Hamid, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Aiyar, Sneha, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Akseer, Nadia, Al-Aly, Ziyad, Alam, Khurshid ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2017). Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet, 390 (10100), 1423-1459. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32336-X
2017
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 333 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Hay, Simon I., Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M., Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulle, Abdishakur M., Abebo, Teshome Abuka, Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J., Ackerman, Ilana N., Adedeji, Isaac A., Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afshin, Ashkan, Aggarwal, Rakesh, Agrawal, Sutapa, Agrawal, Anurag, Kiadaliri, Aliasghar Ahmad, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aiyar, Sneha, Akinyemiju, Tomi F., Akseer, Nadia, Al Lami, Faris Hasan, Alahdab, Fares, Al-Aly, Ziyad ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2017). Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 333 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet, 390 (10100), 1260-1344. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32130-X
2017
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Vos, Theo, Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M., Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulle, Abdishakur M., Abebo, Teshome Abuka, Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J., Ackerman, Ilana N., Adamu, Abdu Abdullahi, Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afarideh, Mohsen, Afshin, Ashkan, Agarwal, Sanjay Kumar, Aggarwal, Rakesh, Agrawal, Anurag, Agrawal, Sutapa, Kiadaliri, Aliasghar Ahmad, Ahmadieh, Hamid, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aiyar, Sneha, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Akseer, Nadia ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2017). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet, 390 (10100), 1211-1259. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32154-2
2017
Journal Article
Prevalence and correlates of suboptimal vitamin D status in people living with psychotic disorders: data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis
Suetani, Shuichi, Saha, Sukanta, Eyles, Darryl W., Scott, James G. and McGrath, John J. (2017). Prevalence and correlates of suboptimal vitamin D status in people living with psychotic disorders: data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51 (9), 921-929. doi: 10.1177/0004867416681853
2017
Journal Article
Nordentoft M.Years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis (vol 4, pg 295, 2017)
Hjorthoj, C., Sturup, A. E., McGrath, J. J. and Nordentoft, M. (2017). Nordentoft M.Years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis (vol 4, pg 295, 2017). Lancet Psychiatry, 4 (9), E19-E19.
2017
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbas, Kaja M., Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdulle, Abdishakur M., Abera, Semaw Ferede, Aboyans, Victor, Abu-Raddad, Laith J., Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E., Abyu, Gebre Yitayih, Adedeji, Isaac Akinkunmi, Adetokunboh, Olatunji, Afarideh, Mohsen, Afshin, Ashkan, Agrawal, Anurag, Agrawal, Sutapa, Ahmadieh, Hamid, Ahmed, Muktar Beshir, Aichour, Miloud Taki Eddine, Aichour, Amani Nidhal, Aichour, Ibtihel, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Akseer, Nadia, Alahdab, Fares, Al-Aly, Ziyad, Alam, Khurshid, Alam, Noore, Alam, Tahiya ... Shen, Jiabin (2017). Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet, 390 (10100), 1345-1422. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32366-8
2017
Journal Article
Is the association between offspring intelligence and parents' educational attainment influenced by schizophrenia or mood disorder in parents?
Greve, Aja Neergaard, Mors, Ole, Mortensen, Erik Lykke, Meier, Sandra Melanie, McGrath, John J. and Petersen, Liselotte (2017). Is the association between offspring intelligence and parents' educational attainment influenced by schizophrenia or mood disorder in parents?. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, 9, 18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2017.07.001
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: 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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