Latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth

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Jun 17 2004

The latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth will be revealed at a public lecture at the Queensland Art Gallery, Australia next Friday (June 25).

Schizophrenia expert Professor John McGrath, of The University of Queensland’s Department of Psychiatry and the director of epidemiology at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, is guest speaker.

His talk entitled, Does your unborn baby need more sun? The links between prenatal vitamin D and growth, will be held from noon to 2pm in the gallery lecture theatre.

Professor McGrath said he would outline his latest results and data he collected on his five-month Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship at Harvard University.

He analysed Queensland and US data at the links between season of birth and growth, skulls of primates and Neanderthal men and examined how low vitamin D may be associated with small changes in physical and brain growth.

Professor McGrath and his team’s schizophrenia research won international acclaim and praise from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie in Parliament on Tuesday morning.

“It is a pleasure to update the House on the research undertaken by a Queensland government Smithsonian Fellow,” Premier Beattie said.

“This research, by 2003 Smithsonian Fellow John McGrath, is truly where the Sunshine State meets the Smart State.

“Professor McGrath is one of 12 outstanding Queenslanders who put a Smithsonian fellowship to work leading to advances in knowledge and growth of our Smart State stature.

“I think that it is good story.”