ONE of the youngest female scientists to make a prestigious list of the most cited researchers across the world is a Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) member based in West Moreton.

Dr Alize Ferrari’s first-time inclusion in the annual Clarivate™ highly cited researchers list for 2020 boosts QCMHR’s representation on the list of respected researchers to three.

She joined QCMHR Director Professor John McGrath and the centre’s Policy and Epidemiology Group lead Professor Harvey Whiteford, who were both included for the third consecutive year.

The list identifies researchers who are most frequently cited by their peers over the last decade with fewer than 6200 researchers from across 21 research fields worldwide earning this distinction in 2020.

Professor McGrath said the trifecta result in the Psychiatry and Psychology field was testament to the quality of research being conducted at QCMHR, which is based at West Moreton Health.

“It is amazing to think we have three of the world’s most highly cited researchers right here in the one institution,” Professor McGrath said.

“This recognition of our contribution to mental health research affirms QCMHR’s place as Queensland’s premier mental health research facility where we are working across the research spectrum from genetics and neurobiology, in clinical trials, child and youth metal health, forensic mental health, and at the policy and translation end, to improve outcomes for people with mental illness, their carers, and families.”

Professor McGrath was included for his work in discovering the causes of serious mental disorders, while Professor Whiteford has been acknowledged for his work in measuring the burden of mental and substance use disorders in the population, and how to improve the health system to efficiently and equitably reduce that burden.

Dr Ferrari, at only 33 years of age, made the highly cited list for her work in the field of Indigenous psychiatric epidemiology and burden of mental disorders. She previously took out the Thomson Reuters Australian Women in Research citation award in 2016 alongside some of Australia’s most promising young researchers.

Professor McGrath is certain Dr Ferrari will be making an impact in the field for some time to come.

“Alize is an inspiring young researcher, whose main contribution has been in leading the mental disorders team within the Global Burden of Disease Study led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington – the work they undertake in providing annual mental disorder outputs is essential to improving health systems and eliminating disparities around the globe.”

West Moreton Health chief executive Dr Kerrie Freeman congratulated the trio for their significant contribution to improving the lives of people with a mental illness.

“Researchers at QCMHR continue to have a huge impact on mental health research at an international level,” Dr Freeman said.

“The trio are among only fourteen Australian researchers working in psychology and psychiatry to make the highly cited list which speaks volumes of the calibre of work at QCMHR.’’