Barbara Dicker orations

We were privileged to have Professor Ron Grunstein AM share some of his vast knowledge and experience in cutting-edge developments in sleep disorders research and new treatments as our keynote speaker. 
This annual oration is an initiative of the Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation showcasing breakthrough life changing research in the areas of sleep, depression and dementia.

The annual Barbara Dicker Oration is an initiative of the Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation (BDBSF) that facilitates meaningful conversations about mental health and brains sciences, as well as research advancements in these fields. 
 
This year we welcome special guest speaker Professor Scott Ayton,  Head of the Dementia Mission and Translational Neurodegeneration Laboratory at the Florey Institute and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis, to speak on the topic of "A New Era for Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment".

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia, a disease that robs people of their memory and capacity to function independently. It is the second leading cause of death in Australia and around 400,000 people are currently living with dementia in Australia.  With this figure set to increase due to our ageing population, further challenging our health and aged care systems, treatment is urgently needed. 

Professor Ayton will present on the rapidly changing landscape of dementia care and treatment, as well as profiling potential new opportunities to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

The 2022 Barbara Dicker Oration augmented the work of the Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation, and its mission to contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and communities by supporting research in the areas of dementia, depression and other brain sciences.

This year we were delighted to welcome guest speaker Professor Michael Berk, an internationally recognised leader in mental health and the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders, to discuss his research on the Development of Novel Therapies.

Taking us from science lab bench to patient bedside, Professor Berk presented his innovative approach to developing novel therapies for some of the world’s most challenging mental health disorders. By using medications that were initially used for other disorders or identifying potential candidate medicines using stem cells and biomarkers, his team are finding new ways to inform clinical care for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and a range of other mental health conditions.

Bringing together Swinburne’s leading mental health researchers, the 2021 Barbara Dicker Oration is a timely conversation surrounding mental health advancement in Australia. Join Swinburne’s Professor Susan Rossell, Professor James Ogloff AM, Dr Michelle Lim and Associate Professor Neil Thomas, to explore what is wrong with our system, the endemic problem of loneliness and the role Swinburne is playing in response.

The Barbara Dicker Oration 2020 explores the tech-enabled innovations putting humanity first to advance the experiences and care of people living with dementia. Hear from eminent Australian Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE FRS FAA, our new Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pascale Quester, Chancellor Professor John Pollaers OAM, Chairperson of the Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation Dr Tony Dicker, and members of Swinburne’s research community for an important conversation on this difficult topic, expertly moderated by ABC medical journalist Sophie Scott.

The experiences that we see, hear, and feel as a child affect us. But just how much? And in what ways is our brain changed by these childhood traumas? The eighth annual Barbara Dicker Oration was presented by Dr Gustavo Turecki (McGill University, Canada). Dr Turecki has devoted his life’s work to understanding how childhood harm can impair brain development and leave adults more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Dr Turecki is a Professor of Psychiatry; Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University; Scientific Director of the Douglas Institute; and Director of the McGill Group for Suicide Studies. His work and contributions to the field have been recognised through numerous awards and he has authored over 450 publications in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Nature Medicine, and The Lancet.

The 2018 Barbara Dicker Oration was presented by Professor Iris Sommer. Professor Sommer is a best-selling author and Professor of Cognitive Aspects of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorder at the Department of Neuroscience at the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands. Entitled The phenomenon of hallucinations, Professor Sommer offered a holistic view into the research and experiences of hallucinations. It’s actually more common than you might think but what happens in our brains when we hallucinate? And what does this mean for new treatments and interventions? This Barbara Dicker Oration was held on 13 September, 2018.

The 2018 Barbara Dicker Oration was presented by Professor Iris Sommer. Professor Sommer is a best-selling author and Professor of Cognitive Aspects of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorder at the Department of Neuroscience at the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands. Entitled The phenomenon of hallucinations, Professor Sommer offered a holistic view into the research and experiences of hallucinations. It’s actually more common than you might think but what happens in our brains when we hallucinate? And what does this mean for new treatments and interventions? This Barbara Dicker Oration was held on 13 September, 2018.

In the 2017 Barbara Dicker Oration Professor Sheri L Johnson, a distinguished professor at the University of California, Berkley, gave us a unique insight into exploring the links of rewards with mania and depression and understanding the relationship between reward pursuit and mood disorders. This Barbara Dicker Oration was held on 11 October 2017.

In the 2017 Barbara Dicker Oration Professor Sheri L Johnson, a distinguished professor at the University of California, Berkley, gave us a unique insight into exploring the links of rewards with mania and depression and understanding the relationship between reward pursuit and mood disorders. This Barbara Dicker Oration was held on 11 October 2017.