Barbara Dicker orations

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.

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.

The fifth annual Barbara Dicker Oration presented by the Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation features a presentation by Dr Michael Rugg from the University of Texas on Memory and Dementia. Memory is one of our most important mental abilities. It allows us to learn from the past, to plan for the future, and to maintain our sense of selfhood. It is also fragile. Memory ability declines in later life even in people free from age-related disease, and it is catastrophically impaired in Alzheimer's Disease, the most common cause of dementia. What we have learned about the brain regions and networks that support memory? How do these differ in their function across the lifespan? How can this knowledge be leveraged to improve the early detection of Alzheimer's Disease and other age-related disorders? This Barbara Dicker Oration was held on 15 September 2016.

'Sleep Matters' presented by Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, Deputy Head of School, Monash University School of Psychological Sciences. Professor Rajaratnam presents on recent advances in understanding the role of the brain clock in controlling sleep and wake processes, and talks about various approaches to treating sleep loss.

Information is transforming the way we receive healthcare. New technologies such as web and mobile applications may be of value to those at risk of suicide, who may avoid contact with health services, and prefer distal, anonomous services.

Depression has been called the common cold of mental illness. This presentation provides an overview of the latest findings on the nature and treatment of depression, and why treatment has not stemmed the rise of depression in our society. Presented on 11 November 2013.

The inaugural Barbara Dicker Oration delivered by Prof Patrick McGorry AO. Mental health research is an important priority, and this presentation explores where are we at today and what can we hope for in future and the importance of public support.