Professor Paul Fitzgerald

Director, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Senior Staff Specialist, Canberra Health Services
(EA: Cheryl Morse E: cheryl.morse@anu.edu.au)
MBBS, MPM, PhD, FRANZCP

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About

Paul Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Medicine and Psychology at the Australian National University. He is a qualified psychiatrist, has a MBBS degree, Masters of Psychological Medicine and research PhD from Monash University.

He has conducted an extensive range of more than 20 clinical trials, especially focussed on the development of novel brain stimulation treatment options including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for patients with depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, autism and Alzheimer’s disease. He has had continual NHMRC grant support for over 20 years and over $10 million in research support in the last 5 years. He has published several books, over 550 journal articles and been cited over 30,000 times.

He has established multiple clinical rTMS services, founded several device and clinical service companies and the first rTMS training program in Australia. He led a national application to the Department of Health in the Federal government which resulted, in 2021, in Medicare funding ($283 million in year 1) of rTMS therapy for patients with depression.

Research interests

Novel treatments for mental health conditions including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, developmental and cognitive disorders

Non-invasive brain stimulation, especially transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial alternating current stimulation

Novel pharmacotherapies for mental health conditions including the use of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy

Location

Florey Building and Canberra Hospital campus, 54 Mills Road, Australian National University, Acton ACT 2601