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

846 works between 1982 and 2025
All (846) Journal Article (630) Book Chapter (22) Conference Publication (191) Book (1) Other Outputs (2)

341 - 360 of 846 works

2015

Journal Article

Vitamin D status during fetal life and childhood kidney outcomes

Miliku, K., Voortman, T., Franco, O. H., McGrath, J. J., Eyles, D. W., Burne, T. H., Hofman, A., Tiemeier, H. and Jaddoe, V. W. V. (2015). Vitamin D status during fetal life and childhood kidney outcomes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70 (5), 629-634. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.216

Vitamin D status during fetal life and childhood kidney outcomes

2014

Journal Article

A Rosetta stone for epidemiology: genomic risk profile scores contain clues related to modifiable risk factors

McGrath, John J. (2014). A Rosetta stone for epidemiology: genomic risk profile scores contain clues related to modifiable risk factors. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 24 (1), 1-5. doi: 10.1017/S2045796014000651

A Rosetta stone for epidemiology: genomic risk profile scores contain clues related to modifiable risk factors

2014

Journal Article

The onset and offset of psychosis - and what happens in between

McGrath, J. J., Miettunen, J., Jaaskelainen, E. and Dark, F. (2014). The onset and offset of psychosis - and what happens in between. Psychological Medicine, 44 (13), 2705-2711. doi: 10.1017/S0033291714001378

The onset and offset of psychosis - and what happens in between

2014

Journal Article

Prevalence and impact of childhood abuse in people with a psychotic illness. Data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis

Shah, Sonal, Mackinnon, Andrew, Galletly, Cherrie, Carr, Vaughan, McGrath, John J., Stain, Helen J., Castle, David, Harvey, Carol, Sweeney, Shaun and Morgan, Vera A. (2014). Prevalence and impact of childhood abuse in people with a psychotic illness. Data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 159 (1), 20-26. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.07.011

Prevalence and impact of childhood abuse in people with a psychotic illness. Data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis

2014

Journal Article

DSM-IV "Criterion A" schizophrenia symptoms across ethnically different populations: evidence for differing psychotic symptom content or structural organization?

McLean, Duncan, Thara, Rangaswamy, John, Sujit, Barrett, Robert, Loa, Peter, McGrath, John and Mowry, Bryan (2014). DSM-IV "Criterion A" schizophrenia symptoms across ethnically different populations: evidence for differing psychotic symptom content or structural organization?. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 38 (3), 408-426. doi: 10.1007/s11013-014-9385-8

DSM-IV "Criterion A" schizophrenia symptoms across ethnically different populations: evidence for differing psychotic symptom content or structural organization?

2014

Journal Article

Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of migrant status in adults with psychotic disorders: data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis

Saha, S., Morgan, V. A., Castle, D., Silove, D. and McGrath, J. J. (2014). Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of migrant status in adults with psychotic disorders: data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 24 (6), 534-541. doi: 10.1017/S2045796014000535

Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of migrant status in adults with psychotic disorders: data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis

2014

Journal Article

The association between family history of mental disorders and general cognitive ability

McGrath, J. J., Wray, N. R., Pedersen, C. B., Mortensen, P. B., Greve, A. N. and Petersen, L. (2014). The association between family history of mental disorders and general cognitive ability. Translational Psychiatry, 4 (e412) e412, 1-6. doi: 10.1038/tp.2014.60

The association between family history of mental disorders and general cognitive ability

2014

Journal Article

Predictors of type 2 diabetes in a nationally representative sample of adults with psychosis

Foley, Debra L., MacKinnon, Andrew, Morgan, Vera A., Watts, Gerald F., McGrath, John J., Castle, David J., Waterreus, Anna and Galletly, Cherrie A. (2014). Predictors of type 2 diabetes in a nationally representative sample of adults with psychosis. World Psychiatry, 13 (2), 176-183. doi: 10.1002/wps.20130

Predictors of type 2 diabetes in a nationally representative sample of adults with psychosis

2014

Journal Article

Carbamazepine for schizophrenia (Review)

Leucht, Stefan, Helfer, Bartosz, Dold, Markus, Kissling, Werner and McGrath, John (2014). Carbamazepine for schizophrenia (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014 (5) CD001258. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001258.pub3

Carbamazepine for schizophrenia (Review)

2014

Journal Article

The importance of father's age to schizophrenia risk

Pedersen, C. B., McGrath, J., Mortensen, P. B. and Petersen, L. (2014). The importance of father's age to schizophrenia risk. Molecular Psychiatry, 19 (5), 530-531. doi: 10.1038/mp.2013.69

The importance of father's age to schizophrenia risk

2014

Conference Publication

RISK FACTORS FOR DEATH AND DISABILITY IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS

Galletly, Cherrie, Foley, Debra L., Mackinnon, Andrew, Watts, Gerald F., Shaw, Jonathan, Magliano, Dianna, Castle, David, McGrath, John, Waterreus, Anna and Morgan, Vera A. (2014). RISK FACTORS FOR DEATH AND DISABILITY IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(14)70061-1

RISK FACTORS FOR DEATH AND DISABILITY IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS

2014

Journal Article

Modelling the incidence and mortality of psychotic disorders: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis

Saha, Sukanta, Whiteford, Harvey and McGrath, John (2014). Modelling the incidence and mortality of psychotic disorders: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48 (4), 352-359. doi: 10.1177/0004867413513341

Modelling the incidence and mortality of psychotic disorders: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis

2014

Journal Article

Inverse and direct cancer comorbidity in people with central nervous system disorders: a meta-analysis of cancer incidence in 577,013 participants of 50 observational studies

Catala-Lopez, F., Suarez-Pinilla, M., Suarez-Pinilla, P., Valderas, J. M., Gomez-Beneyto, M., Martinez, S., Balanza-Martinez, V., Climent, J., Valencia, A., McGrath, J., Crespo-Facorro, B., Sanchez-Moreno, J., Vieta, E. and Tabares-Seisdedos, R. (2014). Inverse and direct cancer comorbidity in people with central nervous system disorders: a meta-analysis of cancer incidence in 577,013 participants of 50 observational studies. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83 (2), 89-105. doi: 10.1159/000356498

Inverse and direct cancer comorbidity in people with central nervous system disorders: a meta-analysis of cancer incidence in 577,013 participants of 50 observational studies

2014

Journal Article

A comprehensive assessment of parental age and psychiatric disorders

McGrath, John J., Petersen, Liselotte, Agerbo, Esben, Mors, Ole, Mortensen, Preben Bo and Pedersen, Carsten Bocker (2014). A comprehensive assessment of parental age and psychiatric disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 74 (3), 301-309. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4081

A comprehensive assessment of parental age and psychiatric disorders

2014

Journal Article

Global, regional, and national levels of neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality during 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Wang, Haidong, Liddell, Chelsea A., Coates, Matthew M., Mooney, Meghan D., Levitz, Carly E., Schumacher, Austin E., Apfel, Henry, Iannarone, Marissa, Phillips, Bryan, Lofgren, Katherine T., Sandar, Logan, Dorrington, Rob E., Rakovac, Ivo, Jacobs, Troy A., Liang, Xiaofeng, Zhou, Maigeng, Zhu, Jun, Yang, Gonghuan, Wang, Yanping, Liu, Shiwei, Li, Yichong, Ozgoren, Ayse Abbasoglu, Abera, Semaw Ferede, Abubakar, Ibrahim, Achoki, Tom, Adelekan, Ademola, Ademi, Zanfina, Alemu, Zewdie Aderaw, Allen, Peter J. ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2014). Global, regional, and national levels of neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality during 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 384 (9947), 957-979. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60497-9

Global, regional, and national levels of neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality during 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

2014

Journal Article

Vitamin D as a neurosteroid affecting the developing and adult brain

Groves, Natalie J., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2014). Vitamin D as a neurosteroid affecting the developing and adult brain. Annual Review of Nutrition, 34, 117-141. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-071813-105557

Vitamin D as a neurosteroid affecting the developing and adult brain

2014

Journal Article

The John Cade Fellowship: Modifiable risk factors for serious mental illness

Mcgrath, John J. (2014). The John Cade Fellowship: Modifiable risk factors for serious mental illness. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48 (1), 13-16. doi: 10.1177/0004867413515059

The John Cade Fellowship: Modifiable risk factors for serious mental illness

2014

Journal Article

Developmentally vitamin D-deficient rats show enhanced prepulse inhibition after acute δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Burne, T. H. J., Alexander, S., Turner, K. M., Eyles, D. W. and McGrath, J. J. (2014). Developmentally vitamin D-deficient rats show enhanced prepulse inhibition after acute δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Behavioural Pharmacology, 25 (3), 236-244. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000041

Developmentally vitamin D-deficient rats show enhanced prepulse inhibition after acute δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol

2014

Conference Publication

Best buys for early intervention to improve cardiometabolic health in adults with psychosis: an Australian perspective

Foley, Debra L., Mackinnon, Andrew, Morgan, Vera, Watts, Gerald, Shaw, Jonathan, Magliano, Dianna, Castle, David, McGrath, John, Waterreus, Anna and Galletly, Cherrie (2014). Best buys for early intervention to improve cardiometabolic health in adults with psychosis: an Australian perspective. 9th International Conference on Early Psychosis – To the New Horizon, Tokyo, Japan, 17 November 2014. Richmond, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/eip.12185

Best buys for early intervention to improve cardiometabolic health in adults with psychosis: an Australian perspective

2014

Journal Article

A comprehensive nationwide study of the incidence rate and lifetime risk for treated mental disorders

Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker, Mors, Ole, Bertelsen, Aksel, LindumWaltoft, Berit Lindum, Agerbo, Esben, McGrath, John J., Mortensen, Preben Bo and Eaton, William W. (2014). A comprehensive nationwide study of the incidence rate and lifetime risk for treated mental disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 71 (5), 573-581. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.16

A comprehensive nationwide study of the incidence rate and lifetime risk for treated mental disorders

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
  • 2008 - 2012
    Social behaviour in rats developmentally deficient in Vitamin D: modelling the negative symptoms of schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    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 - 1998
    The antenatal needs of women 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
  • 1995 - 1996
    Impact of Clozapine
    Sandoz Australia Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1996
    Attentional processing and psychoses: Techniques from cognitive psychophysiology in the investigation of schizophrenia, mood disorder and well controls
    UQ Foundation
    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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