Clara Calia

Clara Calia is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. She co-leads the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee for the Clinical Doctorate program and actively contributes to the UK-wide Clinical Doctorate Anti-Racism Group and the BPS Human Rights Advisory Group. Her research focuses on Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology, Global Mental Health, and Ethics in clinical and research settings. She co-founded the European Consortium for Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology (ECCroN) in 2019 to improve neuropsychological assessments for diverse populations. Since 2018, she has held ethics leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Research Ethics and Integrity, driving ethical practices and developing the ETHICA-4P Toolkit for global research accountability. Funded by grants from the Scottish Funding Council and Wellcome Trust, her projects engaged 400+ researchers across 42 countries.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, Queen Margaret University (2016)
• Clinical Doctorate (2014)
• Pg Cert in Academic Practice, University of Edinburgh (2020)
• Pg Dip in Cognitive Neuroscience, Oxford Brookes University (2010)
• MSc in Clinical Psychology (2008)
• BSc in Psychology (2006)

Research Interests: Clara champions ethics-centered global health initiatives, particularly for vulnerable populations. Her work addresses dementia assessment in refugees/migrants, cultural adaptations of CBT, and mental health equity in low/middle-income countries. She collaborates with organizations like CARA, Re-Act, and Education without Borders to advocate for marginalized groups.

Awards:

• Fellowships: Global Academy of Food Insecurity & Agriculture, Global Health Academy, Higher Education Academy, Usher Institute
• Membership: BPS Human Rights Advisory Group

Grants & Projects: Scottish Funding Council and Wellcome Trust grants supported her ethics toolkits and global research initiatives. Leading cross-cultural neuropsychology and food insecurity studies further highlight her impact.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of ECCroN, collaborator with Independent Research Ethics Committee (IREC), and contributor to the One Health FIELD Network for Fragile States.