Keynote Speakers

Prof. Sarah Medland

Australia

Professor Sarah Medland is a leading psychiatric and statistical geneticist at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Herston, Brisbane, Australia. She is known for her pioneering work on understanding how genetics influence brain structure, function, and mental health. Medland co-founded the ENIGMA brain imaging consortium, bringing together researchers from over 43 countries to study neuroimaging genetics. Her research addresses conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Among her many accolades, she is an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Prof. Pat McGorry

Australia

Professor Patrick McGorry is an Irish-born Australian psychiatrist and a global leader in youth mental health. He is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. Patrick McGorry also advocated strongly for the establishment of the Australian government funded National Youth Mental Health Foundation, which became headspace, and is a founding board member of that organisation. McGorry’s work has significantly influenced policy and practice worldwide, particularly in preventing the progression of serious mental illness. He is a recipient of the Australian of the Year award in 2010 and has contributed to reforms in mental health care delivery.

Prof. Susan Shur-Fen Gau

Taiwan

Professor Susan Shur-Fen Gau is a renowned psychiatrist and researcher based in Taiwan, focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her work integrates clinical practice with genetic and neuroimaging studies, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for children and adults with these conditions. She is a prolific author and a key figure in advancing mental health research in Asia. She currently holds several prominent roles, including President of the Taiwanese Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Director of the Department of Medical Genetics at National Taiwan University Hospital, Medical Doctor at National Taiwan University Hospital, Professor at National Taiwan University, Vice President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP), and Member of the Taiwanese Psychiatric Association.

Prof. Guy Goodwin

UK

Professor Guy Goodwin is a distinguished psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder and depression. He has held significant academic positions in the UK, including Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Goodwin's research has focused on the pharmacological treatment of mood disorders, including lithium's role in bipolar disorder and the development of new antidepressants. He has contributed to clinical guidelines and is an influential figure in the field of psychiatric research. As a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Goodwin has served as principal investigator in many clinical trials for the treatment of bipolar disorder. He is also an Emeritus Senior Investigator at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and has been on the advisory boards of numerous research councils. He was President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology from 2013 to 2016.

Prof. Paul Kenny

USA

Professor Paul Kenny is a neuroscientist and the Ward-Coleman Chair of the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of the Drug Discovery Institute. Dr. Kenny’s research focuses on the neurobiology of addiction, particularly the brain mechanisms underlying compulsive drug use and obesity. His multidisciplinary work combines behavioral paradigms, physiological analysis, and molecular studies to identify critical targets for therapies addressing addiction and obesity-related disorders. Currently, he is investigating signaling cascades in rodent brains that may drive addiction-like behaviors.