Professor John McGrath
Professor

John McGrath

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 3271 8694

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

Clinical sciences Health Sciences Neurosciences

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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).

Search Professor John McGrath’s works on UQ eSpace

899 works between 1982 and 2025
All (899) Journal Article (672) Book Chapter (22) Conference Publication (196) Book (1) Other Outputs (8)

341 - 360 of 899 works

2016

Conference Publication

Hallucinations in Adolescents and Risk for Mental Disorders in Adulthood: Prospective Evidence From the Musp Birth Cohort Study

Scott, J. G., Connell, M., Betts, K., Alati, R., Najman, J., Clavarino, A., Mamun, A. and McGrath, J. J. (2016). Hallucinations in Adolescents and Risk for Mental Disorders in Adulthood: Prospective Evidence From the Musp Birth Cohort Study. RANZCP 2016 Congress, Hong Kong, May 2016. LONDON: Sage Publications.

Hallucinations in Adolescents and Risk for Mental Disorders in Adulthood: Prospective Evidence From the Musp Birth Cohort Study

2015

Journal Article

Improving the understanding of the link between cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Moore, Raeanne C., Harmell, Alexandrea L., Harvey, Philip D., Bowie, Christopher R., Depp, Colin A., Pulver, Ann E., McGrath, John A., Patterson, Thomas L., Cardenas, Veronica, Wolyniec, Paula, Thornquist, Mary H., Luke, James R., Palmer, Barton W., Jeste, Dilip V. and Mausbach, Brent T. (2015). Improving the understanding of the link between cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Research, 169 (1-3), 121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.09.017

Improving the understanding of the link between cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

2015

Journal Article

Genome-wide association study of schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jews

Goes, Fernando S., Mcgrath, John, Avramopoulos, Dimitrios, Wolyniec, Paula, Pirooznia, Mehdi, Ruczinski, Ingo, Nestadt, Gerald, Kenny, Eimear E., Vacic, Vladimir, Peters, Inga, Lencz, Todd, Darvasi, Ariel, Mulle, Jennifer G., Warren, Stephen T. and Pulver, Ann E. (2015). Genome-wide association study of schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jews. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 168 (8), 649-659. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32349

Genome-wide association study of schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jews

2015

Journal Article

An urgent call to address the deadly consequences of serious mental disorders

Suetani, Shuichi, Whiteford, Harvey and McGrath, John J. (2015). An urgent call to address the deadly consequences of serious mental disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 72 (12), 1166-1167. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.1981

An urgent call to address the deadly consequences of serious mental disorders

2015

Journal Article

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 188 countries, 1990-2013: Quantifying the epidemiological transition

GBD 2013 DALYs and HALE Collaborators, Charlson, Fiona J., Erskine, Holly E., Ferrari, Alize J., Gouda, Hebe N., Hoy, Damian G., Knibbs, Luke D., McGrath, John J., Scott, James G., Whiteford, Harvey A. and Lalloo, Ratilal (2015). Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 188 countries, 1990-2013: Quantifying the epidemiological transition. The Lancet, 386 (10009), 2145-2191. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61340-X

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 188 countries, 1990-2013: Quantifying the epidemiological transition

2015

Journal Article

Lithium for schizophrenia

Leucht, Stefan, Helfer, Bartosz, Dold, Markus, Kissling, Werner and Mcgrath, John J. (2015). Lithium for schizophrenia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015 (10) CD003834. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003834.pub3

Lithium for schizophrenia

2015

Journal Article

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Vos, Theo, Barber, Ryan M., Bell, Brad, Bertozzi-Villa, Amelia, Biryukov, Stan, Bolliger, Ian, Charlson, Fiona, Davis, Adrian, Degenhardt, Louisa, Dicker, Daniel, Duan, Leilei, Erskine, Holly, Feigin, Valery L., Ferrari, Alize J., Fitzmaurice, Christina, Fleming, Thomas, Graetz, Nicholas, Guinovart, Caterina, Haagsma, Juanita, Hansen, Gillian M., Hanson, Sarah Wulf, Heuton, Kyle R., Higashi, Hideki, Kassebaum, Nicholas, Kyu, Hmwe, Laurie, Evan, Liang, Xiofeng, Lofgren, Katherine, Lozano, Rafael ... Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 Collaborators (2015). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 386 (9995), 743-800. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

2015

Conference Publication

Rapid modulation of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels by vitamin D

Gooch, H., Cui, X., Burne, T., Eyles, D., Anggono, V., Sah, P. and McGrath, J. (2015). Rapid modulation of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels by vitamin D. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, Aug 23-27, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Rapid modulation of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels by vitamin D

2015

Journal Article

Cardiovascular risk factor associations in adults with psychosis and adults in a national comparator sample

Foley, Debra L., Mackinnon, Andrew, Morgan, Vera A., Watts, Gerald F., Shaw, Jonathan E., Magliano, Dianna J., Castle, David J., McGrath, John J., Waterreus, Anna and Galletly, Cherrie A. (2015). Cardiovascular risk factor associations in adults with psychosis and adults in a national comparator sample. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (8), 714-723. doi: 10.1177/0004867414565476

Cardiovascular risk factor associations in adults with psychosis and adults in a national comparator sample

2015

Journal Article

Psychotic experiences in the general population: a cross-national analysis based on 31 261 respondents from 18 countries

McGrath, John J., Saha, Sukanta, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Caldas-De-Almeida, Jose Miguel, Chiu, Wat Tat, de Jonge, Peter, Fayyad, John, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Hu, Chiyi, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lepine, Jean Pierre, Lim, Carmen C. W., Mora, Maria Elena Medina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Ochoa, Susana, Sampson, Nancy, Scott, Kate, Viana, Maria Carmen and Kessler, Ronald C. (2015). Psychotic experiences in the general population: a cross-national analysis based on 31 261 respondents from 18 countries. JAMA Psychiatry, 72 (7), 697-705. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0575

Psychotic experiences in the general population: a cross-national analysis based on 31 261 respondents from 18 countries

2015

Journal Article

Secular trends in seasonal variation in birth weight

Jensen, Camilla B., Gamborg, Michael, Raymond, Kyle, McGrath, John, Sorensen, Thorkild I.A. and Heitmann, Berit L. (2015). Secular trends in seasonal variation in birth weight. Early Human Development, 91 (6), 361-365. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2015.03.010

Secular trends in seasonal variation in birth weight

2015

Journal Article

Building capacity in academic psychiatry: The Queensland Mental Health Research Alliance

Suetani, Shuichi, Burgher, Bjorn, McLean, Duncan, Breakspear, Michael and McGrath, John (2015). Building capacity in academic psychiatry: The Queensland Mental Health Research Alliance. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (5), 482-483. doi: 10.1177/0004867415577980

Building capacity in academic psychiatry: The Queensland Mental Health Research Alliance

2015

Journal Article

Current smoking is associated with worse cognitive and adaptive functioning in serious mental illness

Depp, C. A., Bowie, C. R., Mausbach, B. T., Wolyniec, P., Thornquist, M. H., Luke, J. R., Mcgrath, J. A., Pulver, A. E., Patterson, T. L. and Harvey, P. D. (2015). Current smoking is associated with worse cognitive and adaptive functioning in serious mental illness. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 131 (5), 333-341. doi: 10.1111/acps.12380

Current smoking is associated with worse cognitive and adaptive functioning in serious mental illness

2015

Journal Article

Retinal microvessels reflect familial vulnerability to psychotic symptoms: A comparison of twins discordant for psychotic symptoms and controls

Meier, Madeline H., Gillespie, Nathan A., Hansell, Narelle K., Hewitt, Alex W., Hickie, Ian B., Lu, Yi, McGrath, John, MacGregor, Stuart, Medland, Sarah E., Sun, Cong, Wong, Tien Y., Wright, Margaret J., Zhu, Gu, Martin, Nicholas G. and Mackey, David A. (2015). Retinal microvessels reflect familial vulnerability to psychotic symptoms: A comparison of twins discordant for psychotic symptoms and controls. Schizophrenia Research, 164 (1-3), 47-52. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.01.045

Retinal microvessels reflect familial vulnerability to psychotic symptoms: A comparison of twins discordant for psychotic symptoms and controls

2015

Journal Article

Vitamin D and the brain: key questions for future research

Cui, Xiaoying, Gooch, Helen, Groves, Natalie J., Sah, Pankaj, Burne, Thomas H., Eyles, Darryl W. and McGrath, John J. (2015). Vitamin D and the brain: key questions for future research. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 148, 305-309. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.11.004

Vitamin D and the brain: key questions for future research

2015

Journal Article

Infection and inflammation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A genome wide study for interactions with genetic variation

Avramopoulos, Dimitrios, Pearce, Brad D., McGrath, John, Wolyniec, Paula, Wang, Ruihua, Eckart, Nicole, Hatzimanolis, Alexandros, Goes, Fernando S., Nestadt, Gerald, Mulle, Jennifer, Coneely, Karen, Hopkins, Myfanwy, Ruczinski, Ingo, Yolken, Robert and Pulver, Ann E. (2015). Infection and inflammation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A genome wide study for interactions with genetic variation. PLoS ONE, 10 (3) e0116696. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116696

Infection and inflammation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A genome wide study for interactions with genetic variation

2015

Journal Article

The prevalence and correlates of childhood trauma in patients with early psychosis

Duhig, Michael, Patterson, Sue, Connell, Melissa, Foley, Sharon, Capra, Carina, Dark, Frances, Gordon, Anne, Singh, Saveena, Hides, Leanne, McGrath, John J. and Scott, James (2015). The prevalence and correlates of childhood trauma in patients with early psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (7), 651-659. doi: 10.1177/0004867415575379

The prevalence and correlates of childhood trauma in patients with early psychosis

2015

Journal Article

Cohort profile update: the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP)

Najman, Jake M., Alati, Rosa, Bor, William, Clavarino, Alexandra, Mamun, Abdullah, McGrath, John J., McIntyre, David, O'Callaghan, Michael, Scott, James, Shuttlewood, Greg, Williams, Gail M. and Wray, Naomi (2015). Cohort profile update: the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). International Journal of Epidemiology, 44 (1), 78-78f. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu234

Cohort profile update: the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP)

2015

Journal Article

Heritability of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor Type 1 Expression and Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Adolescent Twins

Mills, Natalie T., Wright, Margaret J., Henders, Anjali K., Eyles, Darryl W., Baune, Bernhard T., McGrath, John J., Byrne, Edna M., Hansell, Narelle K., Birosova, Eva, Scott, James G., Martin, Nicholas G., Montgomery, Grant W., Wray, Naomi R. and Vinkhuyzen, Anna A. E. (2015). Heritability of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor Type 1 Expression and Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Adolescent Twins. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 18 (1), 28-35. doi: 10.1017/thg.2014.70

Heritability of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor Type 1 Expression and Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Adolescent Twins

2015

Journal Article

Advancing parental age and autism: multifactorial pathways

Lee, Brian K. and McGrath, John J. (2015). Advancing parental age and autism: multifactorial pathways. Trends In Molecular Medicine, 21 (2), 118-125. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2014.11.005

Advancing parental age and autism: multifactorial pathways

Current funding

  • 2021 - 2027
    Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trial Network (MAGNET) (MRFF Million Minds Mental Health Research Grant Led by Deakin University)
    Deakin University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2023
    CREDIT: The CRE for the Development of Innovative Therapies for Psychiatric Disorders (NHMRC CRE administered by Deakin University)
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Developmental Vitamin D-deficiency and Autism; exploration of potential mechanisms and refining phenotype in an animal model
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    A comparison study of three physical activity measurement tools examining acceptability in people with psychotic disorders
    Society for Mental Health Research Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    An Integrated Program of Psychiatric Epidemiology (IPPE)
    Aarhus University
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Voltage-gated calcium channels and vitamin D: investigating the convergent links between risk factors for schizophrenia
    RL Cooper Medical Research Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    The efficacy of adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn (mangosteen) pericarp for the treatment of Schizophrenia: A double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial (SMRI grant admin. by Deakin Uni)
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    World Mental Health Survey
    University of Otago
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    An empirical framework for assessing mortality and morbidity in people with psychotic disorders (NHMRC Project Grant administered by the University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Voltage gated calcium channels and vitamin D: exploring the convergent links between risk factors for schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Does adult vitamin D deficiency increase vulnerability to social stress resulting in altered brain function?
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Early life vitamin D levels and risk of autism spectrum disorders (NIH grant administered by Drexel University)
    Drexel University
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Is developmental vitamin D deficiency associated with autism-related phenotypes: a birth cohort study
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Vitamin D in first episode psychosis - neuroprotective design (D-FEND)
    Stanley Medical Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    NHMRC John Cade Fellowship in Mental Health: Modifiable risk factors for Serious Mental Illness - an integrated program of epidemiology, genetics and clinical trials
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Early pharmacological intervention in an animal model of schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Exploring modifiable candidate risk factors for mental illness in young adults: Infection, vitamin D and stress (NHMRC Project Grant administered by QIMR)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    The outcomes of adolescents and young adults who experience hallucinations: A birth cohort study
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2024
    Developmental Neurobiology of Vitamin D Deficiency Program Funding
    West Moreton Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Developmental Neurobiology Programme Funding
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Developmental vitamin D deficiency and prefrontal cortical dysfunction
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Advanced behavioural facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Attentional processing in developmentally vitamin D deficient rats: Modelling the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia: a replication in two independent samples
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Advanced paternal age: behavioural, neuroanatomical and genomic correlates in the offspring of older fathers
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Physiological and neurochemical mechanisms of executive control
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Facility for analysing behaviour, learning and motor skills in animal models
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Is adult neurogenesis in schizophrenia altered? A pilot study using 14C dating of post-mortem neuronal DNA
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia: a study using Danish dried bloods spots
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The Developmental vitamin D model (DVD) as an animal model for schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2012
    QCMHR Operational (Developmental Neurobiology Programme Funding)
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2008
    Epidemiology Research Project
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Linking clinical and basic research in order to understand the causes of schizophrenia: a collaborative network to study animal models of schizophrenia
    Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia Allied Disorders Ltd.
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Developmental neurobiology
    Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Structural And Diffusion Tensor Neuroimaging In Twins Concordant And Discordant For Psychosis
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2010
    QCMHR Operational (Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory Support)
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2006
    An integrated research program examining risk factors for psychoses
    Stanley Foundation Research Awards Program
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Evoked Response Potential (ERP) and Behavioural Correlates of Working Memory in Psychoses
    Mayne Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 1998
    The assessment of functioning in families with a parent who has serious mental illness
    Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 1998
    The assessment of motor and executive skills in infants at high risk for psychoses: a pilot study
    Ross U.C.V. Bequest
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 2013
    QCMHR Operational (Collaborative Research Projects Support)
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    Impact of clozapine
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    Impact of clozapine
    Wolston Park Hospital
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1998
    Promoting positive outcomes for parents with serious mental illness
    Queensland Health Health Promotion
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1999
    A survey of the needs of parents with serious psychiatric disorders
    Department Health & Family Services - RADGAC
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    The associations between working memory and the symptoms of schizophrenia
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor John McGrath is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor John McGrath directly for media enquiries about:

  • Brain development
  • Neuroscience
  • Schizophrenia

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