Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Professor Paul Fitzgerald is Director of the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health at the Epworth Clinic / Epworth Health Care in Camberwell and Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University. He is a qualified psychiatrist, has a Masters of Psychological Medicine and research PhD.
Prof Fitzgerald completed his medical degree at Monash University (1991) and subsequently a Masters of Psychological Medicine (1998) whilst completing psychiatric training. He then undertook a Clinical and Research Fellowship at the University of Toronto and The Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On returning to Melbourne, he worked as a psychiatrist and completed a PhD in transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia (completed 2003). Since completing this Ph.D., he has developed a substantial research program including a team of over 25 psychiatrists, registrars, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, research nurses and students.
Professor Fitzgerald runs a substantive research program across both MAPrc and Epworth Clinic utilising brain stimulation and neuroimaging techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional and structural MRI, EEG and near infrared spectroscopy. The primary focus of this program is on the development of new brain stimulation based treatments for psychiatric disorders. There is a special focus on severe or treatment resistant depression but treatments are also being investigated in other disorders including schizophrenia, obsessive- compulsive disorder, chronic pain, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease and autism spectrum disorders. Researchers within the team have conducted over 20 clinical trials across these conditions as well as a large number of investigative studies.
Treatments which have been developed or investigated by Professor Fitzgerald include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and deep brain stimulation (DBS). The program of research includes developing and improving methods of treatment application and the conduct of clinical trials.
In support of the development of new treatments, his research is also focused on the conduct of investigative studies of brain function & dysfunction in these disorders. These studies aim to better characterise brain changes underlying the symptoms of psychiatric disorders to directly improve the application of novel therapies. These studies are aiming to lead to the identification of biological markers or predictors of response to treatment. These studies include the use of technologies such as functional and structural MRI, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography and near infrared spectroscopy.
In addition, he is also looking to develop and improve the devices used in the application of brain stimulation. To this end he has a small team of biomedical engineers and software developers and works in close collaboration with the Monash Instrumentation Facility (of which he chairs the steering committee). He is a named inventor on 4 patents (1 granted, 2 PCT phase, 1 national phase – US/EU/Japan/Australia). He has collaborative grants with several industry partners in Australia and overseas and Monash university is currently licensing IP developed in his research into a startup company.
Professor Fitzgerald has published over 500 papers in a range of peer reviewed journals an been cited over 20,000 times. He has received project grant funding from the NHMRC, ARC as well as a number of US based and local funding organisations including over $15 million in funding in the last five years. He has had continual NHMRC project grant funding since 2001. He has been supported by three consecutive NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship awards and a NHMRC Investigator award (current).
Professor Fitzgerald was an elected board Member of the International Society for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (ISTS) and was an invited member of the World Federation of Biological Psychiatry Taskforce on Brain Stimulation (2006-2009). He is currently a committee member for the Electroconvulsive Therapy and Neurostimulation Section with The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and serves on the board of directors for Neurosciences Victoria. He is Psychiatric deputy editor for the journal ‘Brain Stimulation’ and is on the Editorial Boards of ‘Psychiatry Research’ and the ‘Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry’.
He was awarded a National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Young Investigator Award in 2003 and 2005 and the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Eli Lily Oration in 2012.
Professor Fitzgerald’s research has a strong translational focus. He established the first TMS training program run in Australia and has trained over 500 psychiatrists and nurses in TMS techniques. He has directly helped established over 10 clinical TMS services. He has co-authored multiple clinical practice guidelines and advised or contributed to several Medicare applications for new service funding.
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):
External positions
Founder and Board member, TMS Clinics Pty Ltd (trading as Monarch Research Institute)
1 Aug 2017 → …
Director, Epworth Foundation (trading as Epworth HealthCare)
1 Feb 2017 → …
Professor of Psychiatry, Epworth Foundation (trading as Epworth HealthCare)
1 Feb 2017 → …
Professor, Director of TMS Program and Research, Victoria Clinic
1 Jan 2003 → 30 Jan 2017
Research area keywords
- antidepressant
- depression
- prefrontal cortex
- remission
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimu
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
- rtms
- service developm
- bilateral
- transcranial magnetic stimulation
- treatment resistant
- brain stimulation
- psychiatry
- cognition
- cognitive remediation
- dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- transcranial direct current stimulation
- w
- schizophrenia
- bipolar disorder
- autism
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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Brain stimulation therapeutics for mental health disorders: from concept to clinical application
Fitzgerald, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/01/21 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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A Double-blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Tms in the Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations
Fitzgerald, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Kulkarni, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Stanley Foundation Research Programs
15/06/01 → …
Project: Research
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A Double-blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Depression
Fitzgerald, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
NHMRC - National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia)
1/01/01 → …
Project: Research
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MAGNET: Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trial Network (MAGNET)
Berk, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Rossell, S. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fitzgerald, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O'Neil, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Turner, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rodgers, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mihalopoulos, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ng, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Galletly, C. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Davey, C. G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harris, A. W. F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pantelis, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Loo, C. K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lubman, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Siskind, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Forbes, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Meyer, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jacka, F. N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kay-Lambkin, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Malhi, G. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Murray, G. W. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Christensen, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kulkarni, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sarris, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lagopoulos, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McGrath, J. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hoy, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mills, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nelson, M. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O’Donnell, M. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gunn, J. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Millard, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kyrios, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yucel, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Glozier, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Martin, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dean, O. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Almeida, O. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Batterham, P. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McKetin, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bryant, R. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Osborne, R. H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harvey, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hood, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Touyz, S. W. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sundram, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Apostolopoulos, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zoungas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Venkatesh, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Russell, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Poynton, A. (Project Manager) & Arunogiri, S. (Associate Investigator (AI))
Project: Research
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Can Brain Volume-Driven Characteristic Features Predict the Response of Alzheimer’s Patients to Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation? A Pilot Study
Saha, C., Figley, C. R., Lithgow, B., Fitzgerald, P. B., Koski, L., Mansouri, B., Anssari, N., Wang, X. & Moussavi, Z., Mar 2024, In: Brain Sciences. 14, 3, 12 p., 226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 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
12 Citations (Scopus) -
Corrigendum to “Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial” [Neurotherapeutics 21 (3) (2024) e00331] (Neurotherapeutics (2024) 21(3), (S1878747924000175), (10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00331))
Moussavi, Z., Uehara, M., Rutherford, G., Lithgow, B., Millikin, C., Wang, X., Saha, C., Mansouri, B., Omelan, C., Fellows, L., Fitzgerald, P. B. & Koski, L., Sept 2024, In: Neurotherapeutics. 21, 5, 1 p., 100438.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
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
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No Consistent Antidepressant Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis
Fitzgerald, P. B., Hoy, K., Richardson, K. E., Gainsford, K., Segrave, R., Herring, S. E., Daskalakis, Z. J. & Bittar, R. G., May 2024, In: Brain Sciences. 14, 5, 12 p., 499.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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Alfred Hospital, Resident & Graduates Prize
Fitzgerald, P. (Recipient), 1991
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Epworth Healthcare Medical Researcher of the Year 2019
Fitzgerald, P. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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RANZCP Senior Research Award
Fitzgerald, P. (Recipient), Feb 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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RANZCP Congress 2021
Fitzgerald, P. (Invited speaker) & Cassidy, T. (Invited speaker)
16 May 2021 → 20 May 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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RANZCP Congress 2021
Fitzgerald, P. (Invited speaker) & Cassidy, T. (Invited speaker)
16 May 2021 → 20 May 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Brazilian International Conference on Neurosciences and Rehabilitation
Fitzgerald, P. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
23 Oct 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Clinical Brain Stimulation in the time of COVID (Webinar)
Fitzgerald, P. (Member of programme committee)
14 Jul 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Phoenix Australia Centre for Post Traumatic Mental Health
Fitzgerald, P. (Invited speaker)
Sept 2019 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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What is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and how does it actually work?
13/05/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Social Media Article
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Psych Matters - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) [Podcast]. Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
23/04/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Dosing and psychotropic medication. MindCafe, 59, 15-16
1/04/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Social Media Article
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Do we finally now know how all antidepressants work?
1/03/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Social Media Article
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rTMS Therapy and the dangers of flawed guideline development. An open letter to the RANZCP.
1/03/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Social Media Article