Claire Foldi

Dr. Claire Foldi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), Monash University, where she leads the Neural Mechanisms of Eating Disorders laboratory. She is actively engaged in research, teaching, and supervising students in the field of neuroscience and eating disorders.

• Institution: Monash University
• School: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
• Department: Department of Physiology
• Research Lab: Neural Mechanisms of Eating Disorders Laboratory

Dr. Foldi completed her PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience at the Queensland Brain Institute in 2012, followed by postdoctoral training at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. She joined Monash University in 2015 and has since established a robust research program focused on the neurobiological basis of psychiatric diseases, particularly anorexia nervosa.

Her research interests center on understanding the neural circuitry involved in feeding behavior, body weight regulation, and the neurochemical underpinnings of eating disorders. She is particularly interested in response heterogeneity across biological and clinical levels and is pioneering work on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa. Her research integrates animal models, molecular neurobiology, and translational frameworks to bridge gaps between preclinical findings and clinical applications.

The most recent articles highlight a strong trend toward psychedelic therapeutics, gut-brain axis involvement, neurotransmitter interactions (especially serotonin and dopamine), and transdiagnostic approaches to compulsive behaviors in eating disorders. Her publications appear in high-impact journals such as Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, and International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Dr. Foldi has received notable scientific recognition, including:

• CASS Foundation Travel Award (2018)
• Harold Mitchell Foundation Fellowship (2020)

She is actively involved in grants and research projects, serving as Primary Chief Investigator on multiple NHMRC-funded studies, including projects on psilocybin therapy and cortical control of feeding circuits. She also supervises non-HDR students and contributes to teaching in the Integrative Neuroscience and Masters of Biomedical and Health Sciences programs. Her lab is supported by major funding bodies such as the NHMRC, Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation, and the British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

The Foldi Lab fosters a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment focused on advancing understanding and treatment of eating disorders through cutting-edge neuroscience.