Personal profile
Biography
Associate Professor Bernadette Fitzgibbon is the Deputy Director of Research at the Monarch Mental Health Group, and an Associate Professor at the ANU and Monash University. Her research program is dedicated to advancing next-step treatment services for people living with a mental illness and/or chronic pain, including through the application and optimization of brain stimulation and psychedelic therapies. She has successfully led her own and is/has been an investigator on a number of clinical trials, several of which have already been translated into practice.
Bernadette has published >80 journal articles, 3 book chapters, and has been awarded >2.5 million in research funding. Her work has been recognised through a number of awards including being invited to give the 2021 Tess Cramond Lecture at the Australasian Pain Society Meeting and the 2018 Australasian Brain Stimulation Society Early Career Award. She has presented her work at more than 60 conferences and events including being invited to provide a plenary at the 2022 & 2024 Neuromodulation Society of Australia & New Zealand 15th Annual Scientific Meeting.
Bernadette is also passionate about the advancement of brain sciences within Australia, as reflected in role as chair of the Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Network (2017-2021) and an Executive Member of the Australian Brain Alliance (2017-2021), an initiative of the Australian Academy of Science to bring together strategic brain research across Australia. She was also an executive member of the Australasian Brain Stimulation Society (2019-2023).
External positions
Research Affiliate , Epworth Foundation (trading as Epworth HealthCare)
2019 → …
Honorary (Senior Fellow), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne
2019 → …
Honorary Researcher, Alfred Hospital
2016 → …
Research area keywords
- Neurobiology
- Pain Medicine
- Pain Management
- Neuroimaging
- Neurophysiology
- Brain Stimulation
- Pain
- Chronic Pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Autism
- Social Cognition
- Social Neuroscience
- Empathy
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Electroencephalography
- Anxiety
- Aging
- PTSD
- Psychedelics
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Theta Burst Stimulation Melbourne Protocol for Alzheimer's Disease (The TRAM Protocol).
Hoy, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Murphy, O. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fitzgerald, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lemke, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jamadar, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Thomas, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gurvich, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Fitzgibbon, B. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Bionics Institute of Australia (trading as Bionics Institute)
7/03/23 → 7/03/28
Project: Research
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A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Prefrontal Theta Burst Stimulation in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)
Fitzgibbon, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hoy, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Fitzgerald, P. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/19 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of prefrontal theta burst stimulation in fibromyalgia
Fitzgibbon, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Fitzgerald, P. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/04/17 → 5/01/18
Project: Research
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2017 Advancing Women's Research Success Grant
Fitzgibbon, B. (Chief Investigator (CI))
29/03/17 → 31/12/17
Project: Research
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Does emotion regulation differ between individuals with chronic low back pain and health controls? A functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
Fitzgibbon, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Urquhart, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Cicuttini, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
5/05/15 → 4/11/15
Project: Research
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Experienced meditators show greater forward traveling cortical alpha wave strengths
Bailey, N. W., Hill, A. T., Godfrey, K., Perera, M. P. N., Hohwy, J., Corcoran, A. W., Rogasch, N. C., Fitzgibbon, B. M. & Fitzgerald, P. B., Aug 2025, In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1550, 1, p. 173-190 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
The safety of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: A systematic review
Freitas, R. R., Gotsis, E. S., Gallo, A. T., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Bailey, N. W. & Fitzgerald, P. B., Feb 2025, In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 59, 2, p. 128-151 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
7 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Characterizing the opioidergic mechanisms of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced analgesia: a randomized controlled trial
Liu, Y., Sun, J., Wu, C., Ren, J., He, Y., Sun, N., Huang, H., Chen, Q., Liu, D., Huang, Y., Xu, F., Yu, L., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Cash, R. F. H., Fitzgerald, P. B., Yan, M. & Che, X., Sept 2024, In: Pain. 165, 9, p. 2035-2043 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access10 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Comparisons of Accelerated Continuous and Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression and Suicidal Ideation
Zhao, H., Jiang, C., Zhao, M., Ye, Y., Yu, L., Li, Y., Luan, H., Zhang, S., Xu, P., Chen, X., Pan, F., Shang, D., Hu, X., Jin, K., Chen, J., Mou, T., Hu, S., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Fitzgerald, P. B. & Cash, R. F. H. & 2 others, , Jul 2024, In: Biological Psychiatry. 96, 1, p. 26-33 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
43 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Experienced meditators show enhanced interaction between brain and heart functioning
Wang, M. Y., Corcoran, A. W., McQueen, B., Freedman, G., Humble, G., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Fitzgerald, P. B. & Bailey, N. W., 2024, In: Mindfulness. 15, p. 3198–3216 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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2012 Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence
Fitzgibbon, B. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2014 Young Researcher of the Year
Fitzgibbon, B. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australasian Brain Stimulation Society Early Career Researcher Award
Fitzgibbon, B. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Postgraduate Award
Fitzgibbon, B. (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Australasian Brain Stimulation Society
Fitzgibbon, B. (Fellow)
2020Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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VESKI Inspiring Women in STEM Program, Leading the Way: Mid-career emerging leaders
Fitzgibbon, B. (Organiser)
2018 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Journal of Clinical and Translational Neuroscience (Journal)
Fitzgibbon, B. (Editorial board member)
2018 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Australian Brain Alliance (External organisation)
Fitzgibbon, B. (Executive Member)
2017 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
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Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Brain Science Network (External organisation)
Fitzgibbon, B. (Chair/Co-Chair)
2017 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board