Swinburne University
Swinburne has a reputation for producing exceptional quality research that belies its relatively small size. This enviable reputation as a centre for intensive research excellence is the result of a highly focused approach. This focus has seen strong research ties with industry and participation in five National Centres of Research Excellence, including one National Health and Medical Research Council and four Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence, as well as membership of five Co-operative Research Centres. To continue this outstanding performance, Swinburne will invest $250 million over the next four years in highly focussed areas of excellence and global competitiveness. This is all part of Swinburne’s strategy for continued world-class achievements in research.
Brain Sciences Institute
The principal aim of the Brain Sciences Institute (BSI) is to conduct high quality research in human neuroscience. This includes the areas of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychopharmacology, and translational research with a particular emphasis on applied clinical areas across the lifespan. Emphasised is not only the identification of brain structures, functions, and dynamics associated with specific conditions, but also normal development and well-being.
The BSI has brought together a multidisciplinary team of researchers that includes physicists, psychologists, psychophysiologists, biophysicists and neuroscientists. Research is undertaken using multiple neuroscientific technologies: imaging (including MRI/fMRI, MEG, EEG); stimulation (using TMS); psychophysical techniques; and cognitive, clinical and experimental measures and methodologies. In addition, clinical trials are conducted, focusing on the evaluation of effects on cognition, mental health, well-being, and specific functions (e.g. driving). Specific areas of interest include:
- brain dynamics and biophysics
- cellular neuroscience
- social and affective neurosciences
- visual and cognitive neurosciences
- emotional intelligence
- herbal and nutritional medicine
- clinical disorders and their treatment
- normal and abnormal ageing and infant development
- the neuroscientific study of decision-making
The BSI strives to foster local and international research collaboration with Government, industry and other academic institutions and has been successful in attracting nationally competitive grants, national and international industry contracts and government tenders. Further development of Swinburne’s state-of-the-art neuroscience facilities will take place within the Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC) which when complete, will advance the BSI’s research capacity.
Professor Michael Kyrios, Director of the BSI, is a clinical psychologist who has a long history of commitment to teaching, research and clinical practice. In addition to working in the university sector, Mike has worked in general hospital, psychiatric, rehabilitation, primary care and private practice settings. He has a particular interest in the development and dissemination of clinical applications, based on evidence emerging from basic research using a range of methodologies. This focus on translational research and the integration of methodologies and findings across the lifespan is widespread across the BSI.
BSI research staff (in alphabetical order):
Associate Professor Vitas Anderson, Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Professor David Crewther (Deputy Director), Associate Professor Greg Murray, Dr Karen Hansen, Dr Patrick Johnston, Dr Jordy Kaufman, Associate Professor David Liley, Dr Andrew Pipingas, Professor Andrew Scholey, Mr David Simpson, Professor Andrew Wood