The people behind the research

Meet the Research Team

MENOCOG is conducted by an interdisciplinary team of experts in clinical trials, cognitive neuroscience and women's health at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University.

Principal investigators

Study leadership

Lauren Dewsbury

Student Lead Investigator

Lauren Dewsbury

PhD Candidate and Senior Research Scientist · NICM Health Research Institute, WSU

Lauren Dewsbury specialises in female brain health, with a focus on cognition, menopause, bioenergetics, and dementia risk. Her work investigates how the menopause transition influences cognitive function and mood, as well as lifestyle and nutritional interventions that may support women during this time. She, in collaboration with the Principal and Co-Investigators, leads the design and delivery of the MENOCOG trial, including clinical trial co-ordination, participant experience, and outcome assessment.

Genevieve Steiner-Lim

Principal Investigator

A/Prof Genevieve Steiner-Lim

NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow · NICM Health Research Institute, WSU

Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and the Clinical Research Platform Lead at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia.  She is also a Guest Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Germany.  Her research program spans the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cognitive decline and mental health issues in older people with the aim of reducing dementia risk and improving quality of life.  She combines psychophysiological and cognitive neuroscience methods with interdisciplinary research techniques, such as clinical trials, mixed-methods, neuropsychology, machine learning, and metabolomics.  She does this to evaluate novel therapeutics for mental and cognitive health across the lifespan, with a focus on women’s brain health, and non-pharmacological interventions such as nutraceuticals, lifestyle medicine, and brain stimulation.

A/Prof Mike Armour

Co-Investigator

A/Prof Mike Armour

Principal Research Fellow - Reproductive Health | Director of Research · NICM Health Research Institute, WSU

A/Prof Mike Armour is the Director of Research at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, where he leads several clinical trials on endometriosis, menstrual health and complementary medicine. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles on women’s health, contributed to textbook chapters including on medicinal cannabis and endometriosis, and secured over $7.1 million in research funding. Mike is widely recognised for his work in endometriosis, serving as the complementary medicine expert on the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Endometriosis Expert Working Group that developed Australia’s endometriosis guidelines, and currently holds leadership roles as Chair of Australian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE) and is co-lead of the Menstrual Cycle Research Network.

Study team

Research Team

Study Physician

A/Prof Carolyn Ee

MENOCOG Study Physician · Caring Futures Institute, College of Health and Enablement, Flinders University

My research vision is to improve the experience of living with chronic disease. My research focusses on chronic illness relevant in primary care especially the intersection between metabolic health, women’s health and cancer survivorship, with a growing focus on disparities in care. My expertise spans co-design and qualitative methods, feasibility studies, randomised controlled trials, evidence synthesis, guideline development, and translation of guidelines into practice, and is built on a foundation of strong consumer and stakeholder involvement, and engagement and translation into practice, underpinned by over two decades experience as a clinician.

PhD Supervisor

Prof Birgit Derntl

Professor for Women's Mental Health & Brain Function · University of Tübingen, Germany

Clinical Trial Team

Joelle Metri

PhD Candidate & Clinical Trial Co-Ordinator · NICM Health Research Institute, WSU

Joelle Metri is a PhD candidate at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, with a background in neuroscience and clinical trials.  Her research focuses on menopause-related cognitive and mood symptoms and the development of non-pharmacological interventions to support women during the menopause transition.  She is leading the MenoStim Trial, a pilot sham-controlled clinical trial investigating the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on brain activity, cognition, and psychological well-being in women during late menopause transition and early postmenopause. Her work aims to improve understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying menopause-related symptoms and contribute to more targeted, evidence-based care for women.

Affiliated institutions

Research home

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NICM Health Research Institute

NICM Health Research Institute is one of Australia's leading research institutes in the field of integrative medicine and health. Located at Western Sydney University, NICM conducts research that bridges conventional and complementary health care.

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Western Sydney University

Western Sydney University is committed to research that has real-world impact. The university's research culture prioritises community benefit, ethical conduct, and the highest standards of scientific rigour.

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Researchers & media

Collaborator & media enquiries

For media enquiries, research collaboration enquiries, or healthcare provider information, please contact the research team or the WSU media office.

Contact the team
Primary participant contact For questions about the MENOCOG study, including eligibility, participation, and study procedures, please contact Lauren Dewsbury: menocog@westernsydney.edu.au or +61 422 774 769.