Helen Fisher

Helen Fisher is a Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at King's College London, affiliated with the Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry department. Her research focuses on the interplay between environmental factors, genetics, and mental health across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on childhood adversity, psychosis, and the effects of air pollution on mental health.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Psychological Medicine), King's College London (2009)
• Master of Science, King's College London (2006)
• Master of Science, UCL University College London (2004)
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Surrey (2001)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education, King's College London (2013)

Research Interests:

• Childhood maltreatment and its neurodevelopmental consequences
• Gene-environment interactions in mental disorders
• Psychosis and early intervention services
• Environmental exposures (e.g., air pollution) and mental health outcomes
• Longitudinal cohort studies on mental health trajectories

Recent Projects:

• INHABIT: Investigates indoor environmental quality during the transition to net-zero housing (MRC-funded).
• E-Risk @30: Longitudinal twin study tracking mental health and adversity over 30 years (MRC-funded).
• Centre for Society and Mental Health: Examines societal factors impacting mental health (ESRC-funded).

Grants & Funding:

• £3.4M for the INHABIT project (Medical Research Council, 2025–2030)
• £2.5M for E-Risk @30 follow-up (Medical Research Council, 2023–2027)

Labs/Teams: Leads the Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry research group, collaborating with global networks on mental health epidemiology and intervention strategies.