St Cross DPhil wins Race Equality Recognition Award 2024

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Fitri Fareez Ramli, (MD, MMEDSCI Pharmacology, DPhil Psychiatry, 2021), recently won the Race Equality Recognition Award 2024 given by the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry.  

Fareez received this award for his artwork, which visually represents psychiatric concepts and experiences, engaging the public with messages about mental health. Previously, the Department of Psychiatry granted him the opportunity to exhibit his artworks from three collections (Kembara, Suratan, and Kiriman) between November 2023 and February 2024. This marks his seventh exhibition in the UK following a successful tour of his artwork, previously showcased at venues such as the National Army Museum of London, Royal Lancaster London, Education Malaysia London, and St Cross College. 

Alongside his ongoing pursuits, he was honoured with a travel grant from the Guarantors of Brain to present his poster at the Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) conference in Austin, Texas, held in May 2024. During the conference, he will be presenting a segment of his DPhil project, focusing on the effects of ebselen on brain neurochemistry. 

While reflecting on his achievements, he expressed, "I'd like to extend my gratitude to my parents, Ms. Raja Fawziah and Mr. Ramli Yahya, who serve as my primary sources of inspiration for both my art and life. Their unwavering support has been invaluable throughout my journey. Additionally, I am deeply thankful to the Guarantors of Brain for the award, as well as to my supervisors (Prof Philip Cowen and Dr Beata Godlewska), the Department of Psychiatry, and St Cross College for their ongoing support." 

Fareez is currently working with Prof. Philip Cowen and Dr. Beata Godlewska and his current research focuses on ebselen, a lithium-like compound, as a potential treatment for resistant depression. He's investigating ebselen's mechanisms using surrogate antidepressant markers and neuroimaging techniques. Previously, he researched methadone's adverse effects on male reproductive health. His main research interest lies in psychopharmacology, particularly pharmacodynamics.