Professor Hickie has led evidence-based public health and clinical responses to common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and alcohol misuse. He has initiated community programs to reduce death and disability due to depression and linked physical health problems. He has led clinical and e-health strategies for early intervention in younger persons with mental disorders. He has used modern neurobiological methods to delineate novel risk factors for depression including body-clock (circadian) disruption and blood vessel, autoimmune and infective diseases. He has led national evaluation of mental health services and advocated for greatly-enhanced investment in multi-disciplinary research and community-based care.