ISNPR Outstanding Publication Award Round

The International Society of Nutritional Psychiatry Research Outstanding Publication award goal is to recognise high-quality publications related to Nutritional Psychiatry and led by a student (PhD, MD, Masters etc), early career, or mid-career researcher. The Award is for an outstanding publication, factors to be considered include whether the applicant is first, senior, or co-author, the quality of the journal that has accepted the manuscript for publication, and the strategic importance of the publication (e.g. is it an important international collaboration), as well as the potential impact of the research within the field of Nutritional Psychiatry.

Applications are open now for publications from January to June 2025!

 Who can apply?

• This Award is open to anyone who are less than 10 years post the award of their PhD (career disruption will be taken into consideration when assessing this)
• You must be a current member of the International Society of Nutritional Psychiatry Research.
• Your publication/manuscript must have accepted for publication between the above dates.

 When will I be notified of the outcome? 
All applicants will be notified of the outcome via email within 6 weeks of the round closing.

 What happens if I win?
Awardees will receive a certificate of award. Their award will be announced via ISNPR social media and website platforms.

 How do I apply? 
Apply Here!

Applications are now open for publications from January to June 2025.
Applications close June 30th!

Prior awardees for the ISNPR Outstanding Publication Award

ISNPR member Felicity Simpson won the ISNPR Outstanding Publication award for round 2 2024, for their study ‘The Relationship Between Dietary Patterns, Cognition, and Cardiometabolic Health in Healthy Older Adults’ published in Nutrients.

Felicity shares some details below about their study:

A recent Lancet report suggests that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, particularly cardiometabolic ones. In response, our study involving 424 older adults from Newcastle and Adelaide investigates the link between dietary patterns, cognitive function and cardiometabolic health. We utilised principle component analysis to identify three distinct dietary patterns:  a plant-dominated diet, an ultra-processed meat-dominated diet, and a Western-style diet.

Our findings indicated that a meat-heavy diet was associated with poorer long-term memory. This association was notably stronger in individuals with higher cardiometabolic risks, highlighting the role of metabolic health in cognitive decline.

This study is pioneering in the Australian context, being among the first to differentiate the cognitive effects of specific dietary patterns in a generally health and active population. The implications are very interesting and in the future personalised dietary  interventions that consider individual metabolic profiles could potentially reduce dementia risk and enhance cognitive longevity.

Looking forward, our research paves the way for more detailed studies to refine these dietary recommendations and develop precise nutritional therapies. The goal is to provide actionable, evidence-based strategies that public health initiatives can use to combat dementia and improve the quality of life for aging populations. This approach to precision nutrition could dramatically shift our management of cognitive health, making a significant impact on public health.

ISNPR member Halliru Zailani for winning the ISNPR Outstanding Publication award for round 1 2024, for their study ‘High-Dose Omega-3 Supplements Prevent the Recurrence of Bipolar Depression’ published in Psychiatry Research.

Halliru Zailani shares some details about their study:

Bipolar disorder is characterized by high recurrence rates, necessitating lifelong medication for relapse prevention. However, these medications often result in notable side effects, prompting exploration into alternative treatments. Led by Professor Kuan-Pin Su at the Mind-Body Interface Research Centre (MBI-Lab), China Medical University (CMU) Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, researchers investigated the preventive effects of high-dose omega-3 supplements, primarily comprising eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on bipolar depression.

In a six-month study involving 31 carefully selected stable BD patients with normal biochemical parameters and no other health issues, a daily dose of 2.6 g of omega-3 was administered. The supplements significantly reduced the recurrence of bipolar depression and improved depression severity without serious side effects, suggesting its long-term safety. This finding potentially introduces new avenues in bipolar disorder management with nutrition as the mainstay. The findings underscore substantial implications for current treatments, known for toxicity risks and potential manic triggers.

Omega-3 fatty acids, notably EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are recognized for their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. By mitigating inflammation and promoting brain health, these supplements can potentially stabilize mood and prevent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder patients.

This research highlights the potential of high-dose omega-3 supplements as a preventive measure for bipolar depression, offering a safer and potentially more effective alternative to existing medications. Further exploration and validation within the scientific community are encouraged to refine and establish this promising treatment option.

Halliru Zailani, is a PhD Candidate at MBI-Lab specializing in nutritional psychiatry and has authored multiple publications in esteemed journals such as Psychiatry Research; Brain, Behavior, and Immunity; and Nutrients. His contributions have been recognized through several awards, including the 2024 Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) Clinical Study Database award, the 5-Minute Poster Blitz Award at the 2023 Mind-Body Interface International Symposium in Taiwan, the New Investigator Award at the 2023 International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) Congress in Nantes, France, and the Whetstone Scholarship for PhD Students at CMU.