Geraint Rees

Geraint Rees is a Professor of Cognitive Neurology at University College London (UCL) and currently serves as UCL's Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement). He has held significant academic leadership roles, including Dean of the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences (2014–2022), Director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (2008–2014), and Pro-Vice-Provost for Artificial Intelligence (2019–2021). Previously, he was an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a Wellcome Advanced Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and applications of machine learning in healthcare.

Rees earned his pre-clinical medicine degree from the University of Cambridge (1988) and clinical medicine from the University of Oxford (1991). He completed his PhD at UCL in 1999, studying the neural basis of human consciousness using neuroimaging techniques.

His research explores the neural mechanisms underlying human perception and cognition, particularly in visual experience and neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease. He pioneered the use of multivariate analysis and machine learning in neuroimaging, leading to clinical applications with Google DeepMind and Google Health. His work has advanced understanding of neural correlates of consciousness, early diagnosis in neurodegenerative diseases, and predictive analytics in healthcare.

In terms of honors and awards, Rees has been recognized as a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences (2010), Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (2008), and recipient of the Royal Society Francis Crick Lecture and Medal (2007). He also holds a Wiley-Liss/Human Brain Mapping Young Investigator Award (2003) and a Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellowship (2002–2018).

Rees has led interdisciplinary projects, including the EU NEST/Pathfinder ‘Mindbridge’ cooperative grant (2006–2011). His collaborations extend to major institutions like Google and UCL’s medical facilities. He has advised on over 398 peer-reviewed articles, contributing significantly to his H-index of 79 (Web of Science) and 103 (Google Scholar). As Vice-Provost, he oversees UCL’s research strategy, innovation, and global engagement initiatives.

Rees has nurtured academic teams and institutions, notably transforming the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience into a global leader in cognitive studies. His work bridges clinical research, technology, and education, ensuring impactful research outcomes with societal benefits.