Inside the Human Mind: How Genomics is Transforming Mental Health Research
Join us for an evening of engaging science and discovery at the 2026 Mattick Lecture, featuring internationally renowned geneticist and neuroscientist Professor Naomi Wray.
Mental health conditions affect millions of people worldwide, yet scientists still have much to learn about how and why they develop. Unlike many physical illnesses, mental health conditions cannot be diagnosed with a simple blood test or scan, making research into the brain particularly challenging.
In this Mattick Lecture, Professor Naomi Wray will explore how breakthroughs in genetics and genomics are helping researchers better understand conditions such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. While it has long been recognised that genetic risk factors play a major role in mental illnesses, it is only in the past decade that this risk has been shown to be influenced by thousands of DNA differences, each contributing a small effect. By analysing large-scale genetic and health data, scientists are uncovering the biological factors that influence mood, behaviour and cognition.
These discoveries are revealing why mental health conditions can affect people differently and why treatments are often not one-size-fits-all. Join one of the world's leading experts in psychiatric genetics for an engaging discussion on how advances in DNA research are opening new possibilities for earlier diagnosis, more personalised care, improved treatments and a better future for mental health.
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About The Mattick Lecture
The annual lecture is named in honour of Professor John Mattick AO. Professor Mattick co-founded IMB at the turn of the century, as the era of genomics was dawning. In the nearly quarter of a century since then, Professor Mattick has been part of a global research effort that has made massive strides in understanding our genome, and the complex interplay between our genes and our environment.