James Stone

Professor James Stone is a leading academic psychiatrist and neuroscientist at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex. He holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry (Clinical Neuroscience) and maintains an active research and clinical profile, with a focus on the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders. His work integrates neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, and clinical trials to develop novel treatments and biomarkers for conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

• Institution: University of Sussex
• School: Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Academic Rank: Professor
• Email: bsms9kkf@sussex.ac.uk

Education:

• BSc (1st Hons) in Neuroscience, University of London (1994)
• MBBS, University of London (1997)
• PhD, University of London (2008)
• MRCPsych, Royal College of Psychiatrists (2001)
• CCT in General Adult Psychiatry (2005)
• FRCPsych (2015)

Dr Stone’s research interests center on the role of glutamate and GABA in psychosis and depression, the early-stage testing of novel treatments (including ketamine, probiotics, and binaural beats), and the development of neuroimaging biomarkers to enable stratified medicine in psychiatry. He investigates the biological mechanisms of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression, GABA modulation in psychosis, and the gut microbiota’s role in mood disorders. Additional projects explore inflammation in mental illness, glucose metabolism in schizophrenia, brain connectivity in chronic ketamine users, and auditory neuromodulation.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend in translational neuroscience, with a focus on glutamatergic and GABAergic systems, neuroinflammation, gut-brain interactions, and digital or non-invasive interventions. Articles span high-impact journals such as JAMA Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, and Translational Psychiatry, demonstrating rigorous clinical and neurochemical methodologies. Key themes include probiotic adjuncts in depression, ketamine mechanisms, binaural beats, and multimodal neuroimaging in psychosis.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• No formal awards listed in the provided text.

Professor Stone actively supervises PhD students and has secured substantial research funding from major bodies including the Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Wellcome Trust. His grants support innovative work on stroboscopic light therapy, electronic health record-based risk prediction, probiotics for depression, and neurobiological mechanisms in schizophrenia and psychosis. He also contributes to academic leadership through committee roles in the British Association of Psychopharmacology and the RCPsych Academic Faculty Executive Committee.

Labs and Research Teams: While specific lab names are not mentioned, Dr Stone leads a multidisciplinary research group focused on clinical neuroscience and experimental psychiatry. His team includes collaborators from King’s College London, Imperial College, and the Maudsley Hospital, and he has established the ketamine clinic at the Maudsley, underscoring his translational impact. His current projects involve extensive collaboration across neuroscience, psychiatry, and data science, particularly in using natural language processing of electronic health records for early intervention in severe mental illness.