2019 CCS research highlights: MAPrc - women's mental health

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM at the

2019 investiture ceremony

Monash University's Central Clinical School is at the cutting edge of medical research in national and international arenas. We are publishing a series of our research highlights from across 2019.

In this article, we feature a highlight from the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc).

• $2.4 million to bolster women’s mental health research

A highlight for the year for Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM, MAPrc Director, was securing a $2.4 million NHMRC grant to further her world-leading research into women’s mental health.

Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability for Australian women with 43% of women (3.5 million) estimated to have had a mental illness. More Australian women than men experience mental disorders.

Professor Kulkarni’s unique body of work combines clinical neuroscience with basic science and social aspects to improve women’s mental health.

She now proposes to further develop new hormone treatments and study brain impacts of early life trauma to provide fresh insights and innovative treatments for women.

“This grant enables women’s mental health and the impact of hormones to be researched. Many women experience premenstrual depression, post-natal mental illness and perimenopausal ill health – and we propose to further the understanding of the cause of these disorders plus develop new treatments that will hopefully improve outcomes for many,” Professor Kulkarni said.

On a personal note, Professor Kulkarni was recognised for her service to the field of psychiatry in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.