John Oliver Brooks

John Oliver Brooks is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine. With an active research career spanning over three decades, his work focuses on the intersection of psychiatry, neuroscience, and clinical mental health treatment.

Dr. Brooks' primary research interests include bipolar disorder, neuroimaging of mood disorders, inflammation biomarkers in depression treatment, suicide risk assessment, and geriatric psychiatry. His research has evolved from early work on Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline to current investigations of neural circuitry in mood disorders and treatment response prediction. He has made significant contributions to understanding sex differences in depression treatment response and the role of inflammatory markers in mental health conditions.

An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational psychiatry, with particular emphasis on using neuroimaging and biomarker approaches to understand treatment mechanisms in bipolar disorder and depression. His work increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques for risk prediction, especially regarding suicide and self-harm following hospitalization. The longitudinal nature of his research program demonstrates consistent investigation into the neurobiological underpinnings of mood disorders.

Dr. Brooks has secured NIH funding for his research, including as Principal Investigator on the R03MH110877 grant "Neural Signatures of Bipolar Disorder across Depression and Remission" (2016-2019). His collaborative network includes prominent UCLA researchers such as Katherine Narr, Jennifer Kruse, and Michael Irwin, reflecting strong institutional connections within the psychiatry and neuroscience communities.

While his earlier work included significant contributions to geriatric psychiatry and Alzheimer's disease research, his recent focus has shifted more toward bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and suicide risk prediction across the lifespan. His work bridges clinical practice with neuroscience to improve understanding and treatment of severe mental illnesses.