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)

401 - 420 of 899 works

2013

Journal Article

The impact of adult vitamin D deficiency on behaviour and brain function in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Byrne, Jacqueline H., Voogt, Meggie, Turner, Karly M., Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2013). The impact of adult vitamin D deficiency on behaviour and brain function in male Sprague-Dawley rats. PLoS ONE, 8 (8) e71593, e71593.1-e71593.14. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071593

The impact of adult vitamin D deficiency on behaviour and brain function in male Sprague-Dawley rats

2013

Journal Article

Prenatal vitamin D status and risk of psychotic experiences at age 18 years-a longitudinal birth cohort

Sullivan, Sarah, Wills, Andrew, Lawlor, Debbie, McGrath, John and Zammit, Stanley (2013). Prenatal vitamin D status and risk of psychotic experiences at age 18 years-a longitudinal birth cohort. Schizophrenia Research, 148 (1-3), 87-92. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.05.015

Prenatal vitamin D status and risk of psychotic experiences at age 18 years-a longitudinal birth cohort

2013

Journal Article

Multiple variants aggregate in the neuregulin signaling pathway in a subset of schizophrenia patients

Hatzimanolis, A., McGrath, J. A., Wang, R., Li, T., Wong, P. C., Nestadt, G., Wolyniec, P. S., Valle, D., Pulver, A. E. and Avramopoulos, D. (2013). Multiple variants aggregate in the neuregulin signaling pathway in a subset of schizophrenia patients. Translational Psychiatry, 3 (5) e264, e264-e264. doi: 10.1038/tp.2013.33

Multiple variants aggregate in the neuregulin signaling pathway in a subset of schizophrenia patients

2013

Journal Article

"Selfish Spermatogonial Selection": a novel mechanism for the association between advanced paternal age and neurodevelopmental disorders

Goriely, Anne, McGrath, John J., Hultman, Christina M., Wilkie, Andrew O. M. and Malaspina, Dolores (2013). "Selfish Spermatogonial Selection": a novel mechanism for the association between advanced paternal age and neurodevelopmental disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170 (6), 599-608. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12101352

"Selfish Spermatogonial Selection": a novel mechanism for the association between advanced paternal age and neurodevelopmental disorders

2013

Journal Article

The association between adult attachment style and delusional-like experiences in a community sample of women

Varghese, Daniel, Scott, James G., Bor, William, Williams, Gail M., Najman, Jake M. and McGrath, John J. (2013). The association between adult attachment style and delusional-like experiences in a community sample of women. Journal of Nervous And Mental Disease, 201 (6), 525-529. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e318294a257

The association between adult attachment style and delusional-like experiences in a community sample of women

2013

Journal Article

The co-occurrence of common mental and physical disorders within Australian families: a national population-based study

Saha, Sukanta, Stedman, Terry J., Scott, James G. and McGrath, John J. (2013). The co-occurrence of common mental and physical disorders within Australian families: a national population-based study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47 (8), 754-761. doi: 10.1177/0004867413486841

The co-occurrence of common mental and physical disorders within Australian families: a national population-based study

2013

Journal Article

Increasing mortality gap for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia over the last three decades - a Danish nationwide study from 1980 to 2010

Nielsen, Rene Ernst, Uggerby, Anne Sofie, Jensen, Signe Olrik Wallenstein and McGrath, John Joseph (2013). Increasing mortality gap for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia over the last three decades - a Danish nationwide study from 1980 to 2010. Schizophrenia Research, 146 (1-3), 22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.02.025

Increasing mortality gap for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia over the last three decades - a Danish nationwide study from 1980 to 2010

2013

Conference Publication

STRONGER TOGETHER: THE ROLE OF CARERS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM

McGrath, John and Wilton, Noel (2013). STRONGER TOGETHER: THE ROLE OF CARERS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.

STRONGER TOGETHER: THE ROLE OF CARERS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM

2013

Journal Article

Modifiable risk factors for schizophrenia and autism: shared risk factors impacting on brain development

Hamlyn, Jess, Duhig, Michael, McGrath, John and Scott, James (2013). Modifiable risk factors for schizophrenia and autism: shared risk factors impacting on brain development. Neurobiology of Disease, 53, 3-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.10.023

Modifiable risk factors for schizophrenia and autism: shared risk factors impacting on brain development

2013

Journal Article

Low vitamin D concentration exacerbates adult brain dysfunction

Cui, Xiaoying, Groves, Natalie J., Burne, Thomas H. J., Eyles, Darryl W. and McGrath, John J. (2013). Low vitamin D concentration exacerbates adult brain dysfunction. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 97 (5), 907-908. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.061176

Low vitamin D concentration exacerbates adult brain dysfunction

2013

Journal Article

Autism risk across generations: a population-based study of advancing grandpaternal and paternal age

Frans, Emma M., Sandin, Sven, Reichenberg, Abraham, Langstrom, Niklas, Lichtenstein, Paul, McGrath, John J. and Hultman, Christina M. (2013). Autism risk across generations: a population-based study of advancing grandpaternal and paternal age. JAMA Psychiatry, 70 (5), 516-521. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.1180

Autism risk across generations: a population-based study of advancing grandpaternal and paternal age

2013

Journal Article

All SNPs are not created equal: genome-wide association studies reveal a consistent pattern of enrichment among functionally annotated SNPs

Schork, Andrew J., Thompson, Wesley K., Pham, Phillip, Torkamani, Ali, Roddey, J. Cooper, Sullivan, Patrick F., Kelsoe, John R., O'Donovan, Michael C., Furberg, Helena, The Tobacco and Genetics Consortium, The Bipolar Disorder Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, The Schizophrenia Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Schork, Nicholas J., Andreassen, Ole A., Dale, Anders M., McGrath, John J., Mowry, Bryan and Visscher, Peter (2013). All SNPs are not created equal: genome-wide association studies reveal a consistent pattern of enrichment among functionally annotated SNPs. PloS Genetics, 9 (4) e1003449, e1003449. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003449

All SNPs are not created equal: genome-wide association studies reveal a consistent pattern of enrichment among functionally annotated SNPs

2013

Journal Article

The vitamin D receptor in dopamine neurons; its presence in human substantia nigra and its ontogenesis in rat midbrain

Cui, X., Pelekanos, M., Liu, P-Y, Burne, T. H. J., McGrath, J. J. and Eyles, D. W. (2013). The vitamin D receptor in dopamine neurons; its presence in human substantia nigra and its ontogenesis in rat midbrain. Neuroscience, 236, 77-87. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.035

The vitamin D receptor in dopamine neurons; its presence in human substantia nigra and its ontogenesis in rat midbrain

2013

Journal Article

Cognitive performance and response inhibition in developmentally vitamin D (DVD)-deficient rats

Turner, Karly M., Young, Jared W., McGrath, John J., Eyles, Darryl W. and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2013). Cognitive performance and response inhibition in developmentally vitamin D (DVD)-deficient rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 242 (1), 47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.029

Cognitive performance and response inhibition in developmentally vitamin D (DVD)-deficient rats

2013

Journal Article

Genetic schizophrenia risk variants jointly modulate total brain and white matter volume

Terwisscha van Scheltinga, Afke F., Bakker, Steven C., van Haren, Neeltje E. M., Derks, Eske M., Buizer-Voskamp, Jacobine E., Boos, Heleen B. M., Cahn, Wiepke, Pol, Hilleke E. Hulshoff, Ripke, Stephan, Ophoff, Roel A., Kahn, Rene S., Psychiatric Genome-wide Association Study Consortium, Mowry, Bryan J., McGrath, John J ., Nertney, Deborah A ., Brown, Matthew A., Danoy, Patrick A., Catts, Stanley V. and McLean, Duncan E. (2013). Genetic schizophrenia risk variants jointly modulate total brain and white matter volume. Biological Psychiatry, 73 (6), 525-531. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.08.017

Genetic schizophrenia risk variants jointly modulate total brain and white matter volume

2013

Journal Article

Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice

Groves, Natalie J., Kesby, James P., Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J., Mackay-Sim, Alan and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2013). Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 241 (1), 120-131. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.001

Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice

2013

Journal Article

Vitamin D and health in pregnancy, infants, children and adolescents in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement

Paxton, Georgia A., Teale, Glyn R., Nowson, Caryl A., Mason, Rebecca S., McGrath, John J., Thompson, Melanie J., Siafarikas, Aris, Rodda, Christine P. and Munns, Craig F. (2013). Vitamin D and health in pregnancy, infants, children and adolescents in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement. Medical Journal of Australia, 198 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.5694/mja11.11592

Vitamin D and health in pregnancy, infants, children and adolescents in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement

2013

Journal Article

Effect of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on offspring bone structure, composition and quality in later life

Lanham, S. A., Roberts, C., Habgood, A. K., Alexander, S., Burne, T. H. J., Eyles, D. W., Trueman, C. N., Cooper, M., McGrath, J. J. and Oreffo, R. O. C. (2013). Effect of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on offspring bone structure, composition and quality in later life. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 4 (1), 49-55. doi: 10.1017/S2040174412000542

Effect of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on offspring bone structure, composition and quality in later life

2013

Journal Article

Changes in the diagnosed incidence of early onset schizophrenia over four decades

Okkels, N., Vernal, D. L., Jensen, S. O., McGrath, John J. and Nielsen, R. E. (2013). Changes in the diagnosed incidence of early onset schizophrenia over four decades. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 127 (1), 62-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01913.x

Changes in the diagnosed incidence of early onset schizophrenia over four decades

2013

Journal Article

Is it time schizophrenia research left the museum

McGrath, John J. and Meyer-Lindenberg, A. (2013). Is it time schizophrenia research left the museum. Clinical Schizophrenia and Related Psychoses, 6 (4), 170-171. doi: 10.3371/csrp.mcli.01062013

Is it time schizophrenia research left the museum

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor John McGrath directly for media enquiries about:

  • Brain development
  • Neuroscience
  • Schizophrenia

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au