About the Thompson Institute
UniSC’s Thompson Institute integrates world-class research, clinical programs and education to address society’s most pressing mental health issues.
Working with cutting-edge neuroscience, psychotherapies and brain-imaging techniques, our researchers and clinicians connect the mind and body and are uncovering promising new insights into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), youth mental health, healthy brain ageing and dementia, suicide prevention and more.
2024: A year of transformation and growth
2024 marked a pivotal year for the Thompson Institute, highlighted by the official launch of the National PTSD Research Centre (NPRC) in a purpose-built facility backed by an $18 million investment by the Federal Government. The appointment of global expert Professor Alain Brunet as Director further solidified our leadership in PTSD research.
At the same time, we expanded our core research team, welcoming 20 new UniSC affiliates and creating a critical mass of 25 researchers focused on traumatic stress, which cemented the Institute’s position as one of Australia’s national hubs for PTSD research and care.
2024 also saw the launch of the PC2 Molecular Biology Lab and the integration of the Institute’s brain imaging platform, making us one of only three Australian facilities with this capability.
Thompson Institute researchers and staff continued to engage with the community and industry to deliver information on mental health, trauma-informed care and suicide prevention – work that was recognised with national awards and UniSC commendations.
Highlights
- Launch of the National PTSD Research Centre (see p.3)
- Almost $3 million in research funding and philanthropic support for projects in suicide prevention, community resilience, chronic fatigue, youth mental health and more
- Record enrolments from across Australia in our online postgraduate Mental Health and Neuroscience programs
- Launch of the PC2 Molecular Biology Lab and the integration of the Institute’s Brain Imaging and EEG platform, making us one of only three Australian facilities with this capability
- Continued delivery of our Brain Science for Wellbeing training series, which has now reached more than 10,000 community members (see p. 4)
- A new Commonwealth-funded program training GPs in mental health assessment, in collaboration with the Country to Coast Queensland Primary Health Network (CCQ).
Celebrating our staff
- Molecular biologist Dr Bonnie Quigley was named a Superstar of STEM for her research into the biological basis of PTSD. Dr Quigley, who is also a microbiologist and immunologist, focuses on how genetics and biochemistry can help us be resilient to traumatic events.
- A team of six staff received the UniSC Award for Excellence in Service for their work fostering a respectful and inclusive environment.
- Dr Sophie Andrews, who leads the Healthy Brain Ageing Program, received the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award for her work on ways to reduce the risk of dementia in older people through lifestyle changes.
New national research centre puts focus on PTSD
The first of its kind in Australia, the National PTSD Research Centre is pursuing solutions for the millions of Australians who live with post-traumatic stress disorder and the impacts of psychological trauma.
Launched at Birtinya in April, the Centre focuses on the development of new treatments and interventions for PTSD, which directly impacts an estimated 1.4 million Australians and is especially prevalent amongst armed forces veterans and emergency services workers.
Those seeking treatment for PTSD have often experienced challenges in matching individuals to effective treatments, with 60 percent of current treatments not effective past six months. The Centre’s research aims to provide breakthroughs in understanding the neurobiology that underpins the disorder, including the investigation of new medication-assisted therapies, the identification of biomarkers and better assessment of risk.
The Centre works with 25 researchers from around Australia who are dedicated to traumatic stress, led by Thompson Institute Director and global PTSD expert Professor Alain Brunet.
The Centre’s $18.5 million dollar facility is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government, local philanthropists and UniSC and features advanced neuroimaging technology, therapy and clinical observation rooms, a clinical trials facility and a laboratory for molecular research.
Leadership with impact
Professor Alain Brunet’s path to becoming a leader in trauma therapies began as a graduate student in Montreal.
In 1989, Professor Brunet was studying a master’s in psychology at Ecole Polytechnique when a mass shooting on campus left 14 women dead and another 14 people injured.
That event – and the lack of a coordinated response to support people affected – sparked a career-long focus on understanding the mental health impacts of trauma.
Professor Brunet is now internationally recognised for developing Reconsolidation Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for gradually decreasing the strength of emotional memories for those who have experienced trauma.
In 2024, he took up the role as Director of the Thompson Institute and its National PTSD Research Centre, where his goal is to deliver rapid translation of research outcomes to the community.
Hope for survivors: Shane’s story
As one of the millions of Australians living with the impacts of psychological trauma, Shane Smithers knows the impact effective treatments can have on people’s quality of life.
In 2018, Shane was one of the first officers on the scene of the death of a young woman he knew, who had sustained multiple stab wounds in a domestic violence incident. The patient was his daughter’s age, and within 12 hours of responding, Shane began to experience flashbacks and nightmares, and the feeling that his own daughter had died.
It took him six weeks to seek help, but he believes that with earlier intervention and better support, he may have avoided the worst of his PTSD symptoms – which have also included loss of concentration, poor short-term memory and extreme hypervigilance. It’s affected his ability to communicate, his relationships and his ability to work.
Through the Thompson Institute, Shane participated in a clinical trial to test a new medical treatment for his symptoms, and says after six weeks he noticed significant improvements, particularly with his concentration and ability to complete tasks. Results from this trial are yet to be published, but researchers say early findings are promising.
Shane says he believes the new Centre’s focus on research, treatment and advocacy offers hope to people like him who are looking to heal.
Making a difference: Our research in action
Cyberbullying and adolescent mental health
The rise of social media has reshaped young people’s worlds, creating new opportunities for communication and self-expression. However, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have also introduced significant mental health risks, particularly for teenage girls.
A groundbreaking study led by Thompson Institute researchers explored the effects of appearance-related cyberbullying - which contributes to body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and psychological distress - on more than 300 young women aged 14-19.
Findings showed strong links between appearance-related cyberbullying and teenagers’ desire to change their physical appearance through dieting, excessive exercise or cosmetic procedures.
These results highlight the relationship between social media use, cyberbullying and body image concerns, and the urgent need for families, schools and governments to help protect young people from the harm caused by online appearance-based harassment.
- Building public awareness: Media coverage of the research reached an estimated 7 million Australians.
- Contributing to a national conversation: Studies like this one help to inform policy for young Australians, such as the new social media ban for under-16s.
- Next steps: A neuroimaging study is underway to explore how the adolescent brain responds to this type of cyberbullying.
Changing minds, improving lives: Brain Science for Wellbeing webinars
Nearly half of all Australians aged 16 to 85 will experience a mental disorder in their lifetime, and the impacts – both on people’s lives and the economy – are growing.
Developed in response to community demand, the Brain Science for Wellbeing webinar series promotes mental wellbeing through evidence-based education on factors that support mental wellbeing, like sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, social connection and more.
Delivered online and in person, these presentations have reached more than 10,000 people in the community and at workplaces across Australia. Thanks to ongoing funding from the Australian Government, we will continue to offer free monthly webinars to the community in 2025.
- Changing lives: When we surveyed participants, 90 percent of respondents reported positive behavioural changes; 87 percent felt more open toward mental health issues.
Looking ahead: 2025 and beyond
Research spotlight: Sleep equity for First Nations Australians
In December, the Thompson Institute welcomed Professor Fatima Yaqoot, a world-class researcher and sleep scientist who leads the Let’s Yarn About Sleep program, which focuses on reducing the impacts of poor sleep and its associated health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. We look forward to working with Professor Yaqoot in 2025 to continue her work to achieve sleep health equity for First Nations communities.
Other priorities for 2025 include:
- Expanding our clinical services and trauma research to support more Australians living with the impacts of psychological trauma.
- Continuing to grow and invest in our Mental Health and Neuroscience postgraduate program.
- Strengthening partnerships with organisations like Department of Veterans Affairs and Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
- Working towards the launch of our zebrafish facility.
Why zebrafish?
Tiny, striped zebrafish are popular aquarium pets, but they are also crucial to human genetic and disease research. Why? Zebrafish share about 70 percent of their genes with humans, and around 84 percent of human disease-related genes have a zebrafish counterpart. In addition, zebrafish embryos develop very quickly and are transparent, which allows researchers to observe their development in real time under a microscope without invasive procedures.
The Thompson Institute’s dedicated zebrafish facility will allow us to study these tiny fish on site, helping to accelerate our understanding of the biology that underpins mental health disorders, such as PTSD, and how they can be prevented and treated.