New NICM Deputy Director appointed
NICM is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jerome Sarris as its new Deputy Director. Professor Sarris brings extensive research and management experience to the position with a career that spans two decades and includes senior roles at the University of Melbourne's Department of Psychiatry, Swinburne University of Technology's Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, and with the International Network of Integrative Mental Health in the US.
Professor Sarris has a particular interest in anxiety and mood disorder research pertaining to nutraceutical psychopharmacology, and in psychotropic plant medicine research. He has both a clinical practice (nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture) and academic background. Professor Sarris undertook his postdoctoral training at the University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry; the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology; and the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Harvard Medical School.
Professor Alan Bensoussan, NICM Director said the appointment will make a vital contribution to NICM's growth and development plans.
"Jerome will be a core member of the NICM executive team and we will work closely with NICM's Advisory Board, Research Committee and staff to grow the Institute and maintain and build on its strong national and international research networks," said NICM Director, Professor Alan Bensoussan.
"He comes to this role with significant national and international academic and research credentials and understands the complex environment and particular issues involved with integrative medicine research, I am delighted with the appointment and we welcome Jerome to our team."
Professor Sarris has published in many eminent psychiatry journals including The American Journal of Psychiatry, Lancet Psychiatry, and World Psychiatry, has over 100 publications with an H-Index of 27, being cited over 2,500 times. He has been awarded collaboratively over $5.3 million in personal and study grants, including as a CIA on three current multicentre NHMRC Project Grants.
He will help provide leadership across the NICM team to foster a high performance culture, and principles of collegiality, engagement and collaboration across diverse teams. The position has the responsibility of developing new partnerships and attracting new funds to extend the integrative medicine research base in Australia and to provide essential investment in the continued growth of our National Institute.
Professor Sarris will commence in January 2017.
