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Food and Mood Centre
Exploring the impact of nutrition on mental wellbeing
How our research explores the food-mood relationship
The Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University is a world-leading, multidisciplinary research centre that aims to understand the complex ways in which what we eat influences our brain, mood, and mental health.
Mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, while diet is now a proven determinant of mental and brain health. We are the only centre in the world dedicated to researching Nutritional Psychiatry – the groundbreaking field that explores the food-mood-brain connection. We research nutrition-based approaches to prevent and treat mental and brain disorders. Our work has already had a global impact, influencing clinical guidelines, high-level policy, the media and public knowledge.
Our research areas
Led by a team of more than 50 researchers from Deakin’s School of Medicine, our research spans several critical areas to understand the relationship between diet and mental health.
Nutritional psychiatry
We investigate how nutrients and dietary patterns influence mental health and cognitive function to develop effective, evidence-based strategies for mental health improvement.
The gut-brain axis
We explore how gut health affects brain function and mood, examining the impact of dietary choices on the gut microbiome and mental health.
Healthy aging and cognitive function
We research how diet influences cognitive health and ageing, aiming to develop dietary interventions to reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline.
Dietary interventions for mental health
We evaluate the impact of specific dietary changes on mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, to provide practical dietary recommendations for mental health care.
Help us transform mental health through nutrition
Philanthropic partnerships are central to our success. They are essential to continuing the ground-breaking research that enhances quality of life on a global scale.
If you share our passion for preventing mental and brain health conditions, please consider joining us in our mission.
All of our data shows the impact of diet on the brain, immune system and gut microbiome. The fact people can take control of their mental health and help themselves by changing their diet is a very powerful message.
Director, Food and Mood Centre
Our researchers
The Food and Mood Centre brings together leading experts from across various fields, including microbiology, public health and psychiatry.
Professor Felice Jacka OAM is the Director of the Food and Mood Centre, Founder and Immediate Past President of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research, and a pioneer in the field of Nutritional Psychiatry. Awarded an OAM in 2021, her work has shaped and continues to influence global mental health policies.
Associate Professor Wolfgang Marx is the Deputy Director of the Food and Mood Centre and a Senior Research Fellow. His work spans high-impact systematic reviews, clinical trials on probiotics and nutraceuticals, and international clinical and research guidelines.
Behind the research
Supporting mental health isn't just about what happens above the neck – but what’s on the plate. See how our team of researchers are uncovering the link between diet and mental health, and why it matters for everyone, from early life to later years.
Featured projects
Our team leads and contributes to large-scale collaborative projects, which aim to close critical gaps in evidence and generate data to inform global health policy and practice.
Dietary treatment for depression
Our team led a world-first trial testing whether improving diet quality could treat moderate to severe depression. Over 12 weeks, participants were supported by a dietitian to follow a modified Mediterranean-style diet and saw significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms than those in a social support group.
Curbing anxiety and depression through lifestyle
The CALM Trial showed that lifestyle therapy, delivered by dietitians and exercise physiologists in online group sessions, can be as effective and cost-efficient as psychotherapy for reducing depressive symptoms. This approach offers a scalable option to support mental health alongside other treatments.
