Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am Professor within the Department of Neuroscience at the School of Translational Medicine (STM), with an internationally recognised laboratory for the study of neurodevelopmental plasticity. My laboratory uses extensive behavioural, epigenetic, imaging and neuropathological techniques to examine the influences of early experiences on long-term outcomes. We are particularly interested in understanding how early environmental manipulations (i.e. stress, drug exposure, diet) modify brain development and recovery from brain injury, as well as the risk for chronic pain and mental health disorders. In addition, we closely collaborate with the STM departments of Gastroenterology and Immunology as part of the new GIN (Gastroenterology-Immunology-Neuroscience) initiative which is designed to further understand the gut-brain-immune axis and rapidly translate research from the bench to the bedside.
I have held continuous national competitive funding throughout my academic career. As principal investigator, I was awarded an EL2 Investigator Grant from the NHMRC for $1.45M, a Canadian Institute for Health Research project grant for $1.2M, and a National Science and Engineering Research Council operating grant for $130K. I am the co-applicant on additional NHMRC Ideas grants examining the neurological consequences of traumatic brain injury (~$3M) neonatal infant abusive head injury ($1.2M), a CIHR Project grant ($600K), and a Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans grant ($300K). I have also secured supplemental funding from three commercial/pharmacological sources (>$300K) and a co-PI on a 4th for $1.1M.
I was awarded the ‘Health Science Research Mentor Award’ from the
Faculty of Medicine (Calgary, CA) for my supervision of Honours students, in 2022 was nominated for Supervisor of the Year, at Monash University, and was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (Monash University, 2022).
Supervision interests
Investigating the Role of the Circadian System in Traumatic Brain Injury
Investigating the Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain
The Effects of Orexin Modulation on Sleep, Glymphatic Function, and Recovery from Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
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):
Education/Academic qualification
Neuroscience, PhD
Award Date: 21 Jun 2012
Forensic Molecular Biology, Masters
Award Date: 30 Aug 2007
Psychology, BSc
Award Date: 1 Jun 2005
Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, BSc
Research area keywords
- Mild traumatic brain injury
- Neurodevelopmental plasticity
- Concussion pathology
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Development of Pain in Youth Exposed to Traumatic Experiences
Miller, J. V. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mychasiuk, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Noel, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lebel, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rasic, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cobos Rodriguez, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Walker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/25 → 1/07/30
Project: Research
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Developing a Preclinical Model of Neonatal Inflicted Head Trauma to Improve Outcomes for Survivors
Salberg, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mychasiuk, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Semple, B. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Project: Research
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Brain injury in intimate partner violence: Insight into a silent pandemic
Shultz, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), O'Sullivan, M. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fitz-Gibbon, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Meyer, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), van Donkelaar, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Christie, B. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mychasiuk, R. (Associate Investigator (AI)), McDonald, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Law, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Vivash, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), O'Brien, T. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Ponsford, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Jupp, B. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Chen, Z. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Mitra, B. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Marks, J. (Associate Investigator (AI))
NHMRC - National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia)
1/01/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Neuroprotective effect of the combination of cannabidiol and isoflurane in mild traumatic brain injury
McDonald, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mychasiuk, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Shultz, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Spitz, G. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/02/21 → 15/02/22
Project: Research
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Testing of the effect of E2730 treatment on multimodality in-vivo biomarkers of GABAergic function in healthy rats and preclinical chronic epilepsy models
O'Brien, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Kwan, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ali, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Casillas-Espinosa, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jones, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jupp, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vivash, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wright, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mychasiuk, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Major, B. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Eisai Inc (United States of America)
22/10/20 → 21/10/21
Project: Research
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Exposure to perinatal trauma modifies nociception and gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus of adolescent rats
Sgro, M., Kodila, Z., Salberg, S., Li, C. N., Smith, M. J., Freeman, J., Vlassopoulos, E., Harris, S., Shultz, S. R., Yamakawa, G. R., Noel, M. & Mychasiuk, R., Mar 2025, In: Journal of Pain. 28, 15 p., 104762.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Pathophysiology, blood biomarkers, and functional deficits after intimate partner violence-related brain injury: Insights from emergency department patients and a new rat model
Sun, M., Symons, G. F., Spitz, G., O'Brien, W. T., Baker, T. L., Fan, J., Martins, B. D., Allen, J., Giesler, L. P., Mychasiuk, R., van Donkelaar, P., Brand, J., Christie, B., O'Brien, T. J., O'Sullivan, M. J., Mitra, B., Wellington, C., McDonald, S. J. & Shultz, S. R., Jan 2025, In: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 123, p. 383-396 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access5 Citations (Scopus) -
Research priorities for diagnosis, prognosis, and rehabilitation following concussion: results from a national survey of Australian health professionals
Smith, M. J., Major, B. P., Cowen, G., Fini, N. A., Grant, S., Kramer, S. F., Hamilton, M. J., Lawlor, K., Patterson, B., Salberg, S., Shultz, S. R., Semple, B. D., Sewell, K., Trevena-Peters, J., Lannin, N. A. & Mychasiuk, R., 2025, In: Disability and Rehabilitation. 47, 9, p. 2258-2266 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Shorter Telomere Length Is Associated With Older Age, Poor Sleep Hygiene, and Orthopedic Injury, but Not Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, in a Cohort of Canadian Children
Salberg, S., Smith, M. J., Lamont, R., Chen, Z., Beauchamp, M. H., Craig, W., Doan, Q., Gravel, J., Zemek, R., Lannin, N. A., Yeates, K. O. & Mychasiuk, R., Mar 2025, In: The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 40, 2, p. E154-E162 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Time restricted feeding alters the behavioural and physiological outcomes to repeated mild traumatic brain injury in male and female rats
Zaini, A., Morgan, P. K., Cardwell, B., Vlassopoulos, E., Sgro, M., Li, C. N., Salberg, S., Mellett, N. A., Christensen, J., Meikle, P. J., Murphy, A. J., Marsland, B. J., Mychasiuk, R. & Yamakawa, G. R., Mar 2025, In: Experimental Neurology. 385, 16 p., 115108.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)