ProfessorBen Colagiuri

Ben Colagiuri is Professor of Psychology and Co-Director, Discovery and Translation, at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. He received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Sydney in 2010. His research examines how expectations, information, and social context shape health outcomes, with a particular focus on placebo and nocebo effects.

Ben has developed novel experimental models to investigate placebo and nocebo mechanisms across pain, sleep, nausea, and related conditions. His current research explores how knowledge of placebo and nocebo effects can be used ethically to improve patient outcomes, reduce treatment-related harms, and inform clinical communication.

He has secured more than $7 million in competitive research funding, incluidng ARC Future Fellowship, published more than 100 scientific papers, and received national and international recognition for his work. His awards include the International Association for the Study of Pain Patrick D. Wall Young Investigator Prize, the Australian Psychological Society Media Award for Public Engagement, and the International Society of Behavioural Medicine Early Career Award.

Ben previously served as Head of the School of Psychology and as a member of the Academic Board. He is also President of the International Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies.