Thematic Cluster: MAP-Neuro: Diverse hiPSC Models, AI Analytics & Mechanism-Guided Therapeutics

MAP-Neuro brings scientists from Malaysia and Australia together to better understand and treat mental health conditions like schizophrenia and autism. Using stem cells derived from patients, we grow human brain cells to see how they behave and respond to treatments including promising psychedelic compounds. With the help of advanced imaging, multi-omics, and artificial intelligence, we aim to find reliable brain biomarkers and predict who will benefit from which therapy. This project positions Malaysia as a regional hub for fair, human-based mental health research that can improve lives across the Indo-Pacific.

Impact: The cluster directly advances Monash Impact 2030: Thriving communities by tackling mental health—one of the core determinants of whether people can “live well and together”—and operationalises the plan’s charge to address the challenges of our age through research, education, and external partnerships across the Indo-Pacific (MUM–MUA–industry/health). In doing so, MAP-Neuro positions Malaysia as a regional hub for equitable, human-relevant precision neuropsychiatry while contributing to community wellbeing locally and globally.

Project 1 (Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences)

Cross-Regional Mechanisms in Schizophrenia & ASD via Multi-omics in Patient-Derived hiPSC Models

This project establishes hiPSC lines from ethnically diverse Malaysian donors with schizophrenia/ASD plus matched controls, harmonised with Australian standards. Differentiated cortical neurons and organoids will be profiled by genomics/transcriptomics/proteomics and high-content imaging to map cellular and network phenotypes. Integrated analyses will identify disease modules (synaptic signalling, connectivity, neurotransmission) and quantify shared vs population-specific features by comparing Malaysian and Australian cohorts. Outputs include QC’d donor lines, SOPs, interoperable datasets, and candidate biomarkers that feed Projects 2 and 3. The work supplies human-relevant effect sizes and endpoints necessary to power AI modelling and mechanism-guided therapeutic testing for major neuropsychiatric conditions.

The ideal PhD candidate will have a strong background in neuroscience, stem cell biology, or bioinformatics, with hands-on experience in cell culture, molecular techniques, or imaging. They should be keen to learn integrative analysis of genomics and proteomics data and motivated to explore the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. As the project bridges wet-lab and computational research across Malaysia and Australia, the applicant should demonstrate curiosity, analytical thinking, and teamwork skills. A passion for advancing human-relevant, equitable mental health research is essential. Degrees in neuroscience, biotechnology, biomedical science, or bioinformatics are preferred.

For enquiries, please contact Assoc. Professor Satoshi Ogawa

For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.

How to Apply

When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.

By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.

However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in.

Main Supervisor (Malaysia):Assoc. Professor Satoshi Ogawa

Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Chong Lor Huai, Assoc. Professor Anne Yee

Associate Supervisor (Australia): Prof. Mark Bellgrove, Prof. Terence O'Brien, Prof. Patrick Kwan, Dr Shahid Javaid, Dr Ana Antonic-Baker

Project 2 (School of Information Technology)

AI of Neural Connectivity for Biomarker and Treatment-Response Discovery

Using the Project-1 hiPSC platform, this project builds AI pipelines to learn disease-relevant representations from cellular images, fused with multi-omics. Models will classify diagnosis and predict treatment response with strict donor-level splits, cross-regional external validation, and fairness audits (sex/ethnicity stratification). Interpretable AI (e.g., attribution maps, SHAP) will nominate mechanism-anchored biomarkers and candidate interventions. Tooling will be containerised and open to support reproducibility and clinical translation. Outputs include validated models, ranked biomarkers, and decision support for dosing/regimen choices that directly guide Project-3 therapeutic testing.

Preferred candidates for having prior experience in AI model development, biomedical image analysis, or multi-omics integration, with strong competence in deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/TensorFlow) and data engineering for reproducible research. Familiarity with cloud/HPC workflows, containerisation (Docker), and basic bioinformatics pipelines will be preferred. Cross-disciplinary training and co-supervision with computational and neuroscience partners under GEMS 2026 will be provided.

For enquiries, please contact Assoc. Professor Ting Chee Ming

For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.

How to Apply

When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.

By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.

Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Ting Chee Ming

Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Chong Lor Huai, Assoc. Professor Anne Yee, Dr Sicily Ting Fung Fung, Assoc. Professor Satoshi Ogawa

Associate Supervisor (Australia): Prof. Jiangning Song, Prof. Terence O'Brien, Prof. Patrick Kwan, Dr Shahid Javaid, Dr Ana Antonic-Baker

Project 3 (Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences)

Mechanisms & Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Compounds in Patient-Derived Neural Models

This project evaluates psychedelics such as 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin in hiPSC-derived neurons/organoids using high-content imaging to quantify synaptic plasticity, connectivity, and signalling changes. Dose/time-course paradigms and cellular safety flags are defined in vitro under controlled-substance compliance. AI insights from Project 2 guide regimen selection and response stratification. Outputs include response biomarkers, candidate dosing windows, and translational feasibility assessed with Cytonex. Work remains preclinical, focusing on human-relevant cellular mechanisms to de-risk future pilot clinical trials. Together with Projects 1–2, it completes the pipeline from mechanism discovery to therapy hypothesis testing in ethnically diverse models.

The ideal PhD candidate for this project will have a strong background in neuroscience, pharmacology, or stem cell biology, with experience in cell culture, molecular assays, or imaging-based analysis. They should be interested in studying how psychedelics affect brain cells and neural networks using human stem cell–derived models. The candidate should be comfortable working in a regulated laboratory environment and open to interdisciplinary collaboration combining pharmacology, imaging, and AI-guided data analysis. Curiosity, precision, and motivation to contribute to safe, evidence-based psychedelic research for mental health are essential. Degrees in neuroscience, pharmacology, biomedical science, or related fields are preferred.

For enquiries, please contact Assoc. Professor Anne Yee

For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.

How to Apply

When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.

By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.

Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Anne Yee

Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Satoshi Ogawa, Dr Chong Lor Huai, Dr Sicily Ting Fung Fung

Associate Supervisor (Australia): Prof. Terence O'Brien, Prof. Patrick Kwan, Dr Shahid Javaid, Dr Ana Antonic-Baker, Prof. Suresh Sundram, Prof. Jiangning Song

The above projects are open for application until positions are filled.