Our research themes
Each of the school's research centres and research partnerships aligns with one or more of our research pillars:
- infection, immunity and cancer
- metabolic and musculoskeletal medicine
- neuroscience
- rural and regional health.
Strategic research centres
Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT)
Research at IMPACT spans clinical, epidemiological and laboratory-based research. Research interests at the centre include neuroscience and musculoskeletal, and metabolic disease.
SMILES
We've recruited approximately 200 adults who suffer from major depression in a world-first trial. We're aiming to answer the question: ‘If I improve my diet, will my mental health improve?’
MOODSWINGS
We're seeing continued growth in online psychological interventions, both in research and as a way of delivering psychologist services.
Together with Stanford University we're evaluating 'Moodswings', one of the first online self-help programs for bipolar disorder.
Centre for Molecular and Medical Research (CMMR)
CMMR combines the leading research programs from the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment.
Over 100 staff work at CMMR, conducting research across four key themes:
- cancer
- molecular bioscience
- metabolic and musculoskeletal
- infection and immunity.
Metabolic Research Unit
The Metabolic Research Unit (MRU) is a purpose-built molecular facility located at Deakin's Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. Here we perform cell culture and molecular biology research to discover novel factors involved in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other disorders.
Bioinformatics Core Research Group
The Bioinformatics Core Research Group (BCRG) brings together a range of expertise and resources to support and facilitate bioinformatics at Deakin University.
The group strives to enable researchers so that they will be able to view and process their data themselves, through appropriate training, bioinformatic support and infrastructure.
School research groups
- Medical Education Research Group
- Clinical Optometry
- Rural Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Pre-Clinical Research
- Clinical Research
The Centre for Organisational Change in Person-Centred Healthcare
The Centre for Organisational Change in Person‐Centred Healthcare has been developed for both consumers and health professionals. We provide education & training and use translational research to influence change in policy and the culture of healthcare systems.
Learn more about The Centre for Organisational Change in Person-Centred Healthcare
External partnerships
Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease (GCEID)
GCEID is a collaborative, multidisciplinary research partnership between Deakin University, Barwon Health and CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) based on a 'one health' approach to understanding and mitigating the risks posed by emerging infectious diseases.
Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre
Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre is a partnership between Deakin University, Federation University and 11 health service providers operating across the western region of Victoria. It aims to strengthen existing collaborations by formalising relationships between the partners that have been sustained over the history of the region’s settlement and development.
Centre for Rural Emergency Medicine (CREM)
Research activities at CREM focus on emergency medicine services based in regional and rural communities. The centre is a joint initiative of the Victorian Government, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare (Warrnambool), Alcoa of Australia and the Deakin Medical School.
National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH)
The NCFH works to improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of farming families across Australia.
As well as conducting research into agricultural workers' health and offering degrees and courses, the centre provides farming families with face-to-face and online support.