Ramsay Clinic Albert Road
Research
We understand that mental health disorders are some of the most challenging health issues in our society. That's why Ramsay Mental Health is leading the way in this research.
The Ramsay Clinic Albert Road Research Unit (RCARRU) is dedicated to finding new treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, addiction and more. Led by Professor Malcolm Hopwood, our team conducts groundbreaking research that help improve mental health outcomes.
Want to be part of the solution?
- Join a research study: Help us test new treatments and make a difference.
- Become a healthy volunteer: Contribute to research without being directly affected.
Participation in any research project or Clinical Trial is voluntary. Our dedicated team will ensure that you are treated with the utmost care and follow strict protocols, regulatory and ethical guidelines to ensure your privacy and confidentiality is always maintained.
All research run at RCARRU has been reviewed and approved by a NH&MRC registered Human Research Ethics Committee.
Our Current Research Trials
Please browse below our current research trials. Should you wish to enquire about a specific trial, take note of the trial's unique protocol number and contact us using the contact form under the list of trials. To explore Ramsay Health Care's broader research efforts please visit Ramsay Research.
Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia
| The Candesartan Adjunctive Bipolar Depression Trial - CADET: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial | |
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| Protocol No | CADET BD |
| Description | This study will test if a well-known blood pressure medication Candesartan may help recovery for people with Bipolar Depression. |
| Sponsor/Funding | Deakin University / Medical Research Future Fund |
| Click here for more information | |
| Pharmacogenetics for Severe Mood Disorders: A Randomised Controlled Trial | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | PMD01 |
| Description | The aim of this study to evaluate how useful the Amplis – EVO™ Mental Health genetic test is in assisting doctors prescribing decisions in the treatment of severe mood disorders. |
| Sponsor/Funding | University of Melbourne / Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation |
| Click here for more information | |
| A study to test the effect of different doses of BI 1358894 and quetiapine in people with depression | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | 1402-0011 |
| Description | The purpose of this trial is to Investigate whether the investigational drug, called BI 1358894, may help patients with Major Depressive Disorder, who do not sufficiently respond to their current antidepressant medication, to improve. The study will also compare the safety and effectiveness of different doses of the investigational drug called BI 1358894 with a placebo and the TGA approved drug Quetiapine in participants with Major Depressive Disorder. |
| Sponsor/Funding | Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Click here for more information | |
| MiND: Markers in Neuropsychiatric Disorders | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | MiND |
| Description | A common clinical question faced by psychiatrists is whether a person’s symptoms are due to their mental illness, medications, or the first sign of neurological conditions. This study investigate whether a blood protein called neurofilament light (NfL), found in brain cells and released into the blood stream when brain cells are injured or dying (e.g. dementia), can help psychiatrists to answer this question. |
| Sponsor/Funding | Melbourne Health |
| Click here for more information | |
Substance misuse & addictions
| A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Personalised Approach Bias Modification for Patients Undergoing Residential Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | MAAT |
| Description | The aims of this study are to determine whether the brain-training reduces people’s approach bias towards methamphetamine-related images, whether the brain-training reduces methamphetamine craving and other methamphetamine dependence symptoms and whether the brain-training helps prevent relapse to methamphetamine use after leaving rehab. |
| Sponsor/Funding | National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs |
| Click here for more information | |
| AAT-App Rehabilitation Trial: The effect of smartphone-delivered cognitive training on relapse and treatment re-admission among patients leaving residential alcohol treatment | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | ATT-App |
| "Approach bias modification" (ApBM) is a computerised "brain-training" intervention that has previously been shown to help prevent relapse in people who have been treated for alcohol use disorder. ApBM is designed to reduce impulses to use alcohol. This study willdeliver ApBM using a smartphone app called "AAT-App" (Alcohol Avoidance Training App). This trial will test whether providing AAT-App to patients when they complete residential rehabilitation treatment for alcohol use disorder helps prevent relapse. | |
| Sponsor/Funding | Monash University |
| Click here for more information | |
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
| The Randomised Controlled Trial of Frontoparietal and Temporoparietal Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Severe Depression: The RAFT ECT Study | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | X22-0018 |
| Description | This study aims to compare the effects of two forms of ECT on mood and thinking as a treatment for severe depression. |
| Sponsor/Funding | The George Institute for Global Health / National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia |
| Click here for more information | |
Mothers and Babies
| Building Early Attachment & Resilience (BEAR)- An evaluation of a relational parent-infant group program for use in a mental health facility | |
|---|---|
| Protocol No | BEAR |
| Description | This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a relational-based, parental-infant outpatients’ program – the “Building Early Attachment and Resilience” (BEAR) program, designed for providing early intervention and parenting support for families needing extra support and who have been referred to a private mental health facility. |
| Sponsor/Funding | The University of Melbourne |
| Click here for more information | |
Healthy Volunteers
Would you like to be a part of ground breaking medical research? Some of the Research conducted at the Ramsay Clinic Albert Road involves Healthy Volunteers as part of the control group or placebo group. This may involve participation in questionnaires, medical assessments or using diagnostic equipment. Travel costs, meals or time may be reimbursed depending on the Research, the participation required and time involved.
Health Volunteers play a very important role in improving healthcare options for the community, please consider volunteering today via the Contact Us form below.
Research and the Community
Ramsay Health Care has partnered with Rotary to establish an efficient and effective program of distributing medical equipment and goods to disadvantaged communities in Australia and overseas.
RCARRU proudly donates unused research laboratory supplies to communities in need while also reducing unnecessary landfill.
Contact Us
To stay informed about future research opportunities please reach out to us via, email, phone or the contact us form below.
Email: researchrecruitment.arc@ramsayhealth.com.au
Phone: 03 9279 3569
For more information about Research throughout the Ramsay network, please visit Ramsay Research.
Recent Publications
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GS Malhi, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, P Hazell, M Hopwood, B Lyndon, ... Australasian Psychiatry, 10398562231159329 |
2023 |
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C Hayes, M Simmons, V Palmer, B Hamilton, C Simons, M Hopwood Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 30 (1), 74-100 |
2023 |
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Use of olanzapine to treat agitation in traumatic brain injury: a series of n-of-one trials RK Phyland, A McKay, J Olver, M Walterfang, M Hopwood, M Ponsford, ... Journal of Neurotrauma 40 (1-2), 33-51 |
2023 |
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M Hinton, O Metcalf, T Varker, G Roebuck, V McGaw, L Watson, ... Military medicine |
2022 |
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M Morgan, MJ Hopwood, JA Dunbar The Medical Journal of Australia 217 (Suppl 7), S34 |
2022 |
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R Roberts, C Johnson, M Hopwood, J Firth, K Jackson, G Sara, J Allan, ... International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (18), 11746 |
2022 |
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The management of depression: the evidence speaks for itself GS Malhi, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, R Bryant, M Hopwood, B Lyndon, ... The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1-3 |
2022 |
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Using an ecological momentary assessment protocol to understand problem anger in veterans T Varker, HA Arjmand, O Metcalf, S Cowlishaw, M O'Donnell, D Forbes, ... Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 76, 101746 |
2022 |
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What works for whom when treating major depression with psychotherapy? G Murray, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, R Bryant, P Hazell, M Hopwood, ... Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 56 (9), 1200-1202 |
2022 |
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NICE guideline for depression ranks short‐term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STTP) GS Malhi, E Bell, P Boyce, R Mulder, D Bassett, A Hamilton, G Morris, ... Bipolar Disorders 24 (5), 467-471 |
2022 |
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M Forbes, H Sizer, R Khanna, M Hopwood, J Green, B Pring Australasian Psychiatry 30 (4), 526-529 |
2022 |
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GS Malhi, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, R Bryant, P Hazell, M Hopwood, ... Australasian Psychiatry 30 (4), 447-451 |
2022 |
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Open innovation: the key to advancing brain health HA Eyre, J Searfoss, M Hopwood, M Berk, S Chen, J Cummings, F Veron, ... CNS spectrums, 1-3 |
2022 |
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AJ Hicks, FJ Clay, AC James, M Hopwood, JL Ponsford Neuropsychology review, 1-39 |
2022 |
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Evidence is king: A defence of evidence‐based recommendations GS Malhi, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, R Bryant, P Hazell, M Hopwood, ... Bipolar Disorders 24 (4), 351-353 |
2022 |
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M Hopwood, D George AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 56 (1_ SUPPL), 205-206 |
2022 |
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DIAGNOSIS AND DECISION-MAKING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSION: ILLUSTRATED CASE STUDIES GS Malhi, E Bell, D Bassett, P Boyce, M Hopwood, R Mulder, R Porter AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 56 (1_ SUPPL), 164-164 |
2022 |
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The IDeAS in MIDAS:'Keeping it real!' GS Malhi, E Bell, P Boyce, M Hopwood, D Bassett, R Mulder, RJ Porter The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry 56 (5), 569-570 |
2022 |
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rTMS and treatment-resistant depression: The need to consider class action! GS Malhi, E Bell, Z Mannie, P Boyce, M Hopwood, D Bassett, R Mulder, ... Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 56 (4), 323-327 |
2022 |
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V Doré, TL Cummins, A Feizpour, N Krishnadas, P Bourgeat, A Elias, ... medRxiv, 2022.03. 10.22272230 |
2022 |
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JL Ponsford, AJ Hicks, KR Gould, MG Downing, M Hopwood, TJ Feeney Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine 65 (2), 101604 |
2022 |
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Cross-lagged analyses of anger and PTSD symptoms among veterans in treatment. S Cowlishaw, O Metcalf, J Little, M Hinton, D Forbes, T Varker, J Agathos, ... Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy 14 (2), 336 |
2022 |
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DJ Castle, M Hopwood, S Rege, DB George Australasian Psychiatry 30 (1), 84-89 |
2022 |
