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Bernadka Dubicka is a Clinical Professor and Honorary Clinical Chair in the Division of Neuroscience at the University of Manchester. She holds dual roles as a research lead at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and as the child and adolescent mental health research lead for Health Innovation Manchester. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and previously served as Chair of the Child and Adolescent Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2017–2021). Her academic qualifications include a BSc in Psychology and MBBs from University College London, followed by FRCPsych accreditation in child psychiatry. She earned a gold medal for her MD thesis on behavioral disorder implications in depression. Dubicka’s research focuses on adolescent depression, mood disorders, and brief interventions, including the IMPACT and STADIA trials evaluating psychological treatments and standardized diagnostic assessments. Her work also addresses technology’s role in youth mental health and the eco-crisis’s mental health impacts. Education: BSc Psychology, University College London MBBs, University of London MD Thesis (Gold Medal), University College London FRCPsych, Royal College of Psychiatrists Her research spans depression treatment efficacy, behavioral activation, and cross-national studies on pediatric bipolar disorder. She collaborates internationally and has led over 49 publications. Awards include a gold medal for her thesis and recognition as an RCPsych Fellow. Her work also emphasizes policy advocacy, such as addressing digital rights for children and mental health responses to climate change (e.g., COP26 contributions). She trains clinicians in brief psychosocial interventions and behavioral activation through academic programs and national courses. Grants & Funding: Co-investigator on the £1.1M HTA-funded STADIA trial evaluating remote mental health assessments. Principal investigator on the IMPACT trial, one of the largest adolescent depression trials globally. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include the University of Cambridge (IMPACT trial), University of Nottingham (STADIA), and international taskforces on treatment-resistant depression.

• Mood Disorders
• Adolescent Mental Health
• Depression Treatment
• +3 more

Dr. Camilla Nord serves as Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge's Department of Psychiatry and is Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. She holds dual appointments as Co-Director of Postgraduate Education & Director of the MPhil in Cognitive Neuroscience at the MRC CBU, and as Fellow and Director of Studies at Christ's College Cambridge. Nord directs the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab (nordlab.co.uk), which focuses on translating neuroscience into improved mental health treatments through innovative pharmacological, psychological, and neurostimulation interventions. Her research spans three interconnected streams: Discovery Science investigates brain-body interactions including interoception, circadian rhythms, and metabolism as neglected sources of mental health information; Experimental Medicine employs pharmacological manipulation, brain stimulation, and psychological interventions to establish causal relationships between physiological mechanisms and mental health conditions; and Translational Neuroscience develops clinical trials for neuroscience-based interventions, particularly 'acute augmentations' that enhance psychological therapy efficacy. Her lab has demonstrated how gut states cause disgust avoidance and how psychological therapy techniques alter negative learning processes. Analysis of Nord's publication record reveals a strong emphasis on computational approaches to mental health, with particular focus on depression treatment mechanisms. Her work increasingly integrates brain-body interactions, especially gut-brain and metabolic pathways, into mental health frameworks. Recent publications show growing emphasis on patient-centered research, interoception, and transdiagnostic approaches that cut across traditional psychiatric categories. Wellcome Career Development Award (£1.5 million) Wellcome Mental Health Award (£4.3 million, jointly awarded with Prof. Sarah Garfinkel) Sunday Times Book of the Year (2023) for 'The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health' Financial Times Book of the Year (2023) for 'The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health' Nord actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with her trainees receiving prestigious awards including the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP) Poster Prize, BAP Hannah Steinberg Bursary, and Alwyn Lishman Prize. Her lab is currently funded by MRC intramural funding, a Wellcome Career Development Award, and a Wellcome Mental Health Award, supporting innovative research at the intersection of neuroscience and mental health treatment. The Mental Health Neuroscience Lab operates within the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, collaborating extensively with researchers across Cambridge and internationally. The lab maintains strong connections with clinical services and patient groups, ensuring research remains grounded in real-world mental health challenges. Current work focuses on transcranial ultrasound stimulation, gut-brain axis interventions, and computational modeling of mental health mechanisms.

• Computational Psychiatry
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychopharmacology
• +7 more

Philip Burnet is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry . He serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Psychiatry , teaches on the MSc Neuroscience and MRCPsych courses, and sits on the editorial board of Nutrition and Aging . His research bridges neuroscience and psychiatry, focusing on neurotransmitter modulation and brain health. Research interests: Burnet investigates the regulation of serotonin and glutamic acid systems in aging and psychiatric disorders. Key projects include exploring D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) inhibition to restore cognition in schizophrenia, analyzing the microbiome-gut-brain axis , and testing dietary interventions like probiotics and ketogenic diets for mental health applications. His work combines molecular techniques with behavioral studies in preclinical and clinical contexts. Article trends reveal a focus on neurotransmitter dynamics , microbiome-brain interactions , and metabolic interventions . Notable methods include RNA interference , animal models , and clinical trial protocols . Professional activities: Collaborates across Oxford and with industry partners, contributes to academic editing, and engages in graduate education leadership.

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurotransmitter Modulation
• +5 more

Dr. Basak Tas is a Research Fellow at King's College London, based in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience within the Department of Addictions Sciences. She has been working at King's since 2014, initially as a PhD student and then as a Post-doctoral Research Associate, before taking up her current role in 2021. Her work focuses on opioid overdose and related interventions, collaborating with Professor Sir John Strang and Dr. Will Lawn. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from King's College London and an MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh. She completed her PhD at King's College London under the supervision of Professor Sir John Strang, Dr. Caroline Jolley, and Dr. James Bell. Her PhD thesis was titled "Clinical and Laboratory Investigation into Heroin and Opioid Overdose Risk". Dr. Tas's research centers on opioid overdose mechanisms, opioid use disorder treatments, and health interventions to reduce drug-related deaths. She investigates experimental drug studies and develops wearable technologies for overdose detection. Her work aims to understand the physiological underpinnings of overdose and create practical tools for real-world overdose prevention, particularly in high-risk populations. Her recent publications (2020-2025) focus on innovative approaches to prevent opioid overdose deaths, including wearable biosensors (e.g., PneumoWave) and mHealth technologies. She explores risk factors for respiratory depression and the acceptability of detection devices among people who use opioids. Her work bridges laboratory models of overdose with clinical applications in supervised injecting facilities and community settings. Dr. Tas was awarded the following scientific award: Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG) Early Career Research Prize (2022) She contributes to teaching by supervising MSc Addiction Studies projects and teaching in the BSc Psychology "Addictions" and "Choices" modules. Additionally, she has been involved in public engagement, including school workshops and the art-science project "Heroin Bodies". Dr. Tas is part of the Drugs Research Group within the Addictions Department at King's, led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden. Her current work involves collaboration on projects related to opioid overdose and wearable technologies.

• Opioid overdose and its underlying mechanisms
• Opioid use disorder and related treatment
• Health interventions tackling drug-related morbidity and mortality
• +2 more

Robin A. Murphy is a Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow and Tutor for Admissions at Corpus Christi College. He holds a PhD from McGill University (Canada) and has contributed over 50 scientific publications on associative learning mechanisms, their role in mental disorders like depression and psychopathy, and translational neuroscientific applications. His research bridges animal and human learning, with a focus on computational psychopathology and neurochemical modulation (e.g., serotonin). Education: Undergraduate degree, Queen's University MA and PhD in Psychology, McGill University Research Interests: Dr. Murphy investigates how associative learning processes underpin mental disorders, particularly through neurochemical systems like serotonin. His work explores causal reasoning biases in depression, psychopathy's learning deficits, and translational models linking animal studies to human cognition. Key themes include agency perception, contingency judgment, and the neural substrates of prejudice. Recent projects involve peptide research in aging and computational modeling of multi-agent systems in depression. Grants and Funding: Supported by MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He has advised UK Research Councils and NSERC (Canada). Labs and Teams: Leads a lab focusing on associative learning mechanisms, collaborating with institutions globally on computational psychopathology and translational neuroscience.

• Computational Psychopathology
• Learning Theory
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• +3 more

Professor Bernadka Dubicka serves as Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Hull York Medical School and is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust. She holds an honorary Chair at Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (University of Manchester) and serves as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Her academic qualifications include a BSc, MB BS, and MD. Trained in child and adolescent psychiatry in London and Manchester, she maintains an active clinical-academic career bridging research and service delivery. Dubicka's research program centers on mood disorders in youth, with pioneering work on brief interventions for adolescent depression. Her ADAPT trial demonstrated treatment-as-usual efficacy comparable to specialized CBT, while the landmark IMPACT trial established brief psychosocial interventions as cost-effective alternatives to specialized therapies - evidence adopted by NICE guidelines. Current work focuses on optimizing remote delivery of behavioral activation through multi-site HTA trials, examining technology-environment-mental health intersections, and addressing systemic inequalities in CAMHS provision. Her distinguished contributions are recognized through the MD thesis gold medal (2009), FRCPsych (2015), National ACCEA bronze award (2015/2022), and North West CRN research award (2021). As Chief Investigator for £2.09M HTA-funded trials and Principle Investigator across multiple national studies (STADIA, Far Away from Home, INSIGHT), she drives innovation in depression treatment and service delivery. Through extensive collaborations with Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and Cambridge universities, and leadership roles including past Chair of RCPsych Child and Adolescent Faculty (2017-2021), she shapes mental health policy via parliamentary testimony, media engagement (BBC, Newsnight), and international advisory work including COP26 representation and EU Parliament consultation.

• Mood Disorders
• Adolescent Depression
• Brief Interventions
• +5 more

Malcolm von Schantz is a Professor and Deputy Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University, affiliated with the HLS Faculty Management and Administration. Previously, he held leadership roles at the University of Surrey, including Associate Dean (International) and acting Pro-Vice Chancellor (International Relations). He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Zoology from an unspecified institution (awarded 10 Dec 1994). His research focuses on human circadian rhythms and sleep, their molecular determinants, and links to physical/mental health. He has secured over £6.4M in research funding from bodies like the MRC, Wellcome Trust, and NIH. Key research areas include sleep architecture, chronotype variability, HIV-related sleep disruptions, and cardiometabolic health correlations. His work has been published in high-impact journals and widely featured in media. He actively participates in international conferences and public outreach, including translating sleep education materials into multiple languages. Notable collaborations include the BioClocks UK initiative and the Baependi Heart Study in Brazil. His recent articles address daylight saving policies, gender-specific sleep-cardiovascular links, and light sensitivity in bipolar disorder. He supervises PhD students and engages in editorial roles across journals. Public impacts include translating educational comics and participating in community health events. His research emphasizes global health equity, particularly in low-resource settings.

• Circadian Rhythms
• Sleep Medicine
• Chronobiology
• +5 more

Professor Alan Winston serves as Professor of Genito-Urinary Medicine within the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He concurrently holds a Consultant Physician position at St. Mary's Hospital, London, where he directs the HIV and GU clinical trials unit managing over 20 active studies. His clinical and academic work bridges patient care with cutting-edge research in HIV comorbidities. Winston qualified from Glasgow University and completed specialized training in general medicine and HIV care across the UK and Australia. This foundation supports his current focus on non-infectious complications in the modern antiretroviral era, particularly neurological and mental health aspects. His research prominently explores central nervous system complications in HIV, cognitive impairment mechanisms, and mental health disparities including depression and anxiety. He investigates multimorbidity patterns in aging HIV populations and develops person-centered approaches to reduce stigma. His work integrates clinical trials, cohort studies like POPPY, and mixed-methods research to address quality-of-life challenges beyond viral suppression. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals three dominant trends: (1) neurocognitive effects of specific antiretrovirals (dolutegravir, bictegravir), (2) psychosocial determinants of cognitive performance, and (3) systemic barriers in mental healthcare access for HIV patients. The POPPY cohort study serves as a critical data source across multiple publications examining aging, polypharmacy, and multimorbidity. Winston leads the POPPY study tracking comorbidities in HIV-positive individuals over time and directs the St. Mary's clinical trials unit conducting therapeutic research. His team includes clinical project managers, trials coordinators, and research staff like PhD candidate Merle Henderson. While specific grants aren't detailed, his management of 20+ concurrent studies indicates substantial research funding from sources including European AIDS Clinical Society collaborations. His laboratory and clinical operations are centered at the Winston Churchill Wing of St Mary's Campus, with affiliations to the Section of Virology and St Mary's Clinical Trials Centre. He contributes to European guideline development, notably statin use recommendations for cardiovascular prevention in HIV patients.

• HIV
• Central Nervous System Complications
• Mental Health
• +5 more

Steve Loughnan is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. His research focuses on dehumanization, objectification, and human-animal relations, exploring how societal and psychological factors influence moral judgments and behaviors. He teaches undergraduate courses on social psychology, experimental/applied social psychology, and social class, and supervises PhD students in related fields. Research interests include: Dehumanization of social and ethnic outgroups Psychological impacts of objectification on women and marginalized groups Moral psychology of meat consumption and animal treatment Effects of economic inequality on societal attitudes Anthropomorphism in human-AI and human-pet relationships His publications analyze topics like the psychological mechanisms behind meat consumption paradoxes, the role of dehumanization in conflict scenarios, and the ethical implications of AI romance. He has received no explicitly listed awards but has been widely cited in social psychology domains. Teaching includes year-long programs on social psychology principles, experimental research methods, and social class analysis. Office hours are held weekly to support students. His work bridges theoretical social psychology with applied issues in global inequality, environmental ethics, and veterinary mental health.

• Social Psychology
• Dehumanization
• Objectification
• +6 more

Dr. Kathryn Lester is an Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology at the University of Sussex's School of Psychology. She leads internationally recognized research on childhood anxiety, focusing on intergenerational transmission, cognitive biases, and school mental health interventions. Her work includes developing evidence-based programs for emotionally-based school avoidance and evaluating whole-school approaches to mental health. She holds leadership roles in Sussex’s senior management team, including Subject Group Lead for Developmental Psychology and Deputy Director for Postgraduate Research. She co-leads the Sussex Foundation Partnership Trust School Mental Health Research Team Clinic and has secured funding from the National Institute for Health Research, ESRC, and The National Lottery Community Fund. Her academic journey includes a D.Phil. in Psychiatry from the University of Oxford (2008) and postdoctoral research at the University of Sussex and King’s College London. Key research interests include anxiety prevention, school-based interventions, and the impact of parenting behaviors on child mental health. She has collaborated with organizations like the Sussex Wildlife Trust and provided consultancy for educational content development, such as children’s book series on emotions and ITV’s ‘Planet Child’ series. Her research spans mixed-methods approaches, including participatory methods with children and caregivers. Notable projects include NIHR-funded studies on digital mental health toolkits and Kavli Trust-funded interventions to reduce anxiety transmission from parents to children. She actively engages in knowledge exchange and mentoring early-career researchers.

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Mental Health
• Anxiety Disorders
• +5 more

Professor Tim Denison FREng holds a joint appointment in the Department of Engineering Science and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, where he serves as the Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies and an MRC Investigator. His research focuses on the fundamentals of physiologic closed-loop systems and developing next-generation neural interface technologies for treating chronic neurological diseases. Professor Denison received his A.B. in Physics from The University of Chicago, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from MIT. He later completed an MBA at The University of Chicago, where he was named a Wallman Scholar. His research spans neural engineering, closed-loop neuromodulation systems, and computational neuroscience, with particular emphasis on deep brain stimulation, neural oscillations, and adaptive neurostimulation techniques. His work integrates engineering principles with clinical neuroscience to develop innovative treatments for neurological disorders. Professor Denison's approach combines computational modeling with experimental validation to optimize brain stimulation parameters for individual patients. Professor Denison has received numerous prestigious awards, including membership in the Bakken Society (2012, Medtronic's highest technical honor), the Wallin leadership award (2014), election to the College of Fellows for the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (2015), and recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). As a former Technical Fellow at Medtronic PLC and Vice President of Research & Core Technology for the Restorative Therapies Group, Professor Denison brings significant industry experience to his academic work. His research group focuses on developing advanced neurostimulation technologies that incorporate chronobiology principles and adaptive algorithms to improve treatment outcomes for neurological conditions.

• Neural interface technologies
• Algorithm technologies for neurological disease treatment
• Physiologic closed-loop systems
• +7 more

Dr. Megan Skelton is a Research Fellow at King’s College London’s Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre (SGDP), affiliated with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. She holds a PhD in Psychology from King’s College London, funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. Her research focuses on leveraging genetic data and longitudinal medical records to study anxiety, depression, and treatment responses, particularly via genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic scoring, and structural equation modeling. Current projects in Prof. Thalia Eley’s EDIT Lab involve prediction modeling, GWAS meta-analyses, and medical record linkage. Education: BSc Psychology (First Class, University of Leeds), MSc Genes, Environment and Development in Psychology (Distinction, King’s College London). Research experience includes roles at the University of Leeds (2011–2017) and King’s College London (2017–present). Awards include the British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award (2014) and Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarship (2013). Key research themes include anxiety/depression comorbidity, treatment efficacy measurement, and understanding genetic influences on mental health outcomes. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) through advancements in personalized mental health care.

• Mental Health
• Genetics
• Depression
• +3 more

Raquel Iniesta is a Reader in Statistical Learning for Precision Medicine at King's College London, leading the Fair Modelling and TDA lab within the Department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics. Her expertise spans mathematics, statistics, and machine learning applied to precision medicine, with a focus on ethical AI integration in healthcare. She teaches advanced machine learning and statistical modeling courses and actively engages in scientific communication through workshops and media outreach. Her research emphasizes developing transparent AI models for personalized medicine, particularly in depression, hypertension, and neurodegenerative diseases. Notable contributions include studies on fasciculation analysis in ALS and ethical frameworks for healthcare AI. Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, combining machine learning with clinical and genetic data to improve predictive models. Dr. Iniesta leads educational initiatives, including the Machine Learning module and Introduction to Statistics programs, and contributes to public engagement by designing digital content and managing social media for research dissemination.

• Machine Learning for Precision Medicine
• Ethics of AI
• Topological Data Analysis
• +3 more

Professor Jonna Kuntsi is a leading researcher in developmental disorders and neuropsychiatry at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, where she holds a professorship in the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre. With extensive training including BSc, MSc, and PhD from University College London and clinical experience at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, she has established herself as a prominent figure in ADHD research globally. Her research primarily focuses on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, with particular expertise in neurodevelopmental disorders, remote measurement technology applications, developmental trajectories, preterm birth associations, and the effects of physical activity on cognition and ADHD symptoms. Professor Kuntsi has pioneered the ADHD Remote Technology (ART) research programme, securing substantial funding including £4 million from the UK Medical Research Council and European Commission for innovative projects like ART-transition and ART-CARMA. Her publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact research across multiple domains of ADHD investigation, with recent work emphasizing digital phenotyping, remote monitoring technologies, and the developmental aspects of ADHD across the lifespan. This research portfolio shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated technological approaches to understanding and managing ADHD. Co-Chair of EUNETHYDIS - the European Network for ADHD Member of the European ADHD Guideline Group (EAGG) Principal Investigator in International Multi-centre Persistent ADHD Collaboration (IMpACT) Steering committee member of ECNP ADHD across the Lifespan Network Steering committee member of ECNP Digital Health Applied to Clinical Research Network Professor Kuntsi actively collaborates with patient support organizations including ADHD Europe and the UK ADHD Information and Support Service (ADDISS), and with technology companies like Empatica and The Hyve. She serves as Chair of the PhD Subcommittee across Departments of Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry and Biostatistics & Health Informatics, demonstrating her commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers while leading multiple international research networks that advance both scientific understanding and clinical practice in ADHD.

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• ADHD research
• Remote measurement technology
• +5 more

Dr Tim Rakow is a Reader in Psychology and Deputy Director of the BSc Psychology program at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. He holds a PhD from University College London (UCL) and has over 25 years of academic experience, including roles at the University of Essex. His research focuses on judgment under uncertainty, decision-making processes, and risk communication in healthcare contexts. Rakow is an Associate Editor for Decision (APA journal) and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Education: PhD (UCL, 2001) on medical decision making; MSc (UCL, 1997); BSc (Durham University, 1988). Teaching: Coordinates Research Methods modules and supervises final-year projects. Leads the transition support system for BSc Psychology students and oversees the Graduate Teaching Assistant program. Research highlights include developing tools for patient decision-making in healthcare (e.g., children’s heart surgery data interpretation) and analyzing clinical judgment processes in pharmacists and clinicians. He has authored/co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to three research projects funded by institutions like the British Academy and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Awards: Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014), Leadership in education and research on decision-making methodologies. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like the Children’s Heart Surgery Information website and risk communication frameworks for medical professionals.

• Judgment and Decision Making
• Risk Communication
• Clinical Decision Making
• +3 more