Bernadette Fitzgibbon

Associate Professor Bernadette Fitzgibbon is Deputy Director of Research at Monarch Mental Health Group and holds academic appointments as Associate Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) and Monash University. Her work bridges clinical neuroscience, mental health, and chronic pain management, with a focus on innovative treatments such as brain stimulation and psychedelic therapies.

• Associate Professor, ANU – College of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Psychology
• Associate Professor, Monash University – Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry
• Deputy Director of Research, Monarch Mental Health Group

Her research centers on understanding and treating chronic pain and mental illness through neurostimulation techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and theta burst stimulation (TBS), as well as exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds. She integrates neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and clinical trials to develop next-step treatment services.

Bernadette’s recent publications highlight her leadership in clinical brain stimulation research, with studies on depression, fibromyalgia, PTSD, autism, and meditation. Her work demonstrates strong translational impact, with several trials already influencing clinical practice. Key themes include neuromodulation efficacy, biomarker discovery, and biopsychosocial mechanisms of pain and mental health.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized through multiple awards:

• Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence (2013)
• Young Researcher of the Year (2014)
• Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2014)
• Australasian Brain Stimulation Society Early Career Award (2018)
• Invited Tess Cramond Lecturer (2021)
• Plenary speaker at the Neuromodulation Society of Australia & New Zealand (2022, 2024)

Bernadette has secured over $2.5 million in research funding and led multiple clinical trials as Primary Chief Investigator. She has served on national advisory boards, including as Chair of the Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Network (2017–2021) and Executive Member of the Australian Brain Alliance. She is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Clinical and Translational Neuroscience and has organized STEM leadership programs for mid-career women.

Her external affiliations include:

• Research Affiliate, Epworth Foundation (2019–present)
• Honorary Senior Fellow, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne (2019–present)
• Honorary Researcher, Alfred Hospital (2016–present)