Research at the Trust – January
Pictured: Angela Kibia and Dr Juliana Onwumere, shortlisted for the King’s Engaged Researcher Awards 2025 for their work with the BREaD in Research Network.
In this Roundup, we share news from Building Race Equity and Diversity (BREaD) in Research Network about their recent anti-racism action plan workshop, and an opportunity for CAMHS staff to play a vital role in contributing to the King’s Maudsley Partnership, by becoming a Research Champion.
If you’ve ever wondered about carrying out research within the Trust, join one of upcoming drop-in lunches with the Joint Research & Development Office, taking place between now and June 2025 – more details below.
Read on to find the latest research news from across the Trust and its partners, as well as media coverage, events and opportunities.
Updates from the Research and Development team
Drop-in lunches with the Joint R&D Office (Feb – Jun 2025)
These drop-in lunches with the Joint Research & Development Office are a chance for staff, students and researchers to ask study-specific or general questions around commercial or non-commercial research, while enjoying some free pizza. Meet with staff from the Research & Development team, King’s CRF, King’s Clinical Trials Office and more.
Register for a drop-in lunch with the Joint R&D Office.
We’re delighted that these events were one of seven projects selected to be funded in the first IoPPN Research Culture Fund call.
Building Race Equity and Diversity (BREaD) in Research Network: Research Anti-Racism Action plan workshop
As part of their ‘Aiming High; Changing Lives’ strategy, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust has set an ambition to lead anti-racism in mental health by 2026; with the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) approach. To achieve this, the Trust has identified five key workstreams – one consisting of research.
On Monday 20 January the Building Race Equity and Diversity (BREaD) Anti-Racism Task and Finish group hosted a workshop facilitated by Zoe Reed (Joint PCREF Strategic Lead) and Nathan Stanley (Black Thrive Global) to identify a ‘Change idea’ and associated metrics that will embed anti-racism practice in research. The workshop explored: ‘How do we create a more inclusive research environment within South London and Maudsley?’ The workshop was well attended by people with lived experience e.g. service user research advisory group, informal carers, PCREF, community organisations, and individuals working in research from King’s and the Trust – including Research Champions, King’s Health Partners and NIHR South London Regional Research Delivery Network.
Work is ongoing to build on the workshop discussions, focusing on creating actionable next steps for the Anti-Racism in Research Action Plan.
Community engagement and trust building
The community conversations about health research, hosted by BREaD, to respond to community concerns about research and address issues of mistrust, was nominated for the King’s Engaged Research Awards 2025 for communicating research at a local level. The awards ceremony took place on 16 January (pictured above).
To find out more, please contact the BREaD Research Assistant, Angela Kibia angela.kibia@kcl.ac.uk
Join the Research Champion Network in CAMHS
Research Champions will have an important voice in steering and supporting the King’s Maudsley Partnership’s aims of maximising the translation of research into practice. We are looking to appoint one Research Champion in each CAMHS team, particularly those moving into the Pears Maudsley Centre. You would be joining a growing network of 66 Research Champions across the Trust.
All clinical staff (Band 2 and above) are welcome to apply, and you will receive 7.5hrs per month of protected time.
How do I find out more?
Visit the Maud pages, get in touch with Ishtaah Persand, Ishtaah.persand@slam.nhs.uk to arrange a chat, or join one of our upcoming events:
- Tour of the Pears Maudsley Centre - Wednesday 26 February, 10-11.30am
This tour is for existing Research Champions in CAMHS, as well as for those interested in finding out more about the role. The tour will be given by Professor Bruce Clarke and Dr Philip Shaw, as well as staff from the Research Champion network.Please fill in this form to register for the tour.
- Research Champions Online Q&A - Wednesday 12 March, 12-1pm
Join an informal Q&A with the leads of the Research Champion network, to have your questions answered. Contact ishtaah.persand@slam.nhs.uk for more information or to submit your question in advance. Join using this Teams link
Take Part in Research
Featured study: Hybrid working in NHS mental health services
This study is looking for NHS staff working in mental health services to complete a short survey about their experiences of productivity and wellbeing using a hybrid work model, i.e. working from home and the office. Find out more and complete the survey
Research News
CAMHS Digital Lab 2024: The Year in Review
The CAMHS Digital Lab reflects on the past year of growth and change, and thanks its partners across King’s College London, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and beyond. Read on to find out more about what the CAMHS Digital Lab got up to last year.
King's launches the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets to support mental health research
Researchers at King’s IoPPN have launched a new free platform to allow people to discover hundreds of longitudinal mental health datasets, in partnership with Wellcome, MQ Mental Health and lived experience experts. The new Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets allows researchers, governments, funders and members of the public to explore over 1,600 datasets using a designated search engine. Read more about the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets
Risk of psychotic disorder appears to decline with time following cannabis use cessation
New research from has reported that cannabis users' risk of developing psychotic disorders appears to decrease with time once they stop using the drug. Professor Marta Di Forti, the study’s joint senior author, said: “Our findings highlight the importance of offering support to people, particular regular users, who decide to stop using cannabis, because a sudden discontinuation in some could actually precipitate psychosis, possibly through an initial worsening of sleep and or anxiety, as other research has suggested.” Read more about research into cannabis use cessation
Professor Ed Bullmore appointed Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King's College London
King’s College London is delighted to announce that Professor Ed Bullmore will be joining the IoPPN as Regius Professor of Psychiatry in June 2025. The Regius Professorship is bestowed to an esteemed professor of psychiatry, who demonstrates outstanding research and clinical practice within the field and is a pioneering researcher, clinician and educator. Professor Bullmore trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley and Bethlem Royal Hospitals. Read more about the appointment of new Regius Professor of Psychiatry
Transforming mental health care across England with the Mental Health Implementation Network
The Mental Health Implementation Network is a UK-wide programme which aims to drive changes in mental health practice by bringing together experts by experience, local communities, health providers, commissioners and national stakeholders. Read more about the Mental Health Implementation Network
Professor Kate Tchanturia awarded MBE in New Year Honours for services to people with eating disorders and autism
Kate works as a Consultant Psychologist with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Her work on eating disorders and autism spectrum disorders in women helped to develop the pioneering PEACE pathway. She has been part of King’s IoPPN since 1997, and is Professor of Psychology in Eating Disorders within the Department of Psychological Medicine. Read more about the New Year Honours
In the Media
BBC News, 7 January 2025
Child mental health crisis: Better resilience is the solution, say experts
Professor Andrea Danese, Honorary Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, argues that promoting mental health resilience in children is something that should be taken seriously.
The Mail Online, 14 January 2025
Dr Sameer Jauhar, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Professor Carmine Pariante, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, discuss the differences between self-diagnosis and clinical diagnosis for depression.
Events and Opportunities
Research Roadshow
- Find out more about research at the Trust and how you can get involved, as a service user, member of staff or the public.
- Tuesday 4 March, 11:00–14:00, Churchdown Mental Health Centre, 1A Churchdown, Downham, London, BR1 5PS - All welcome to drop-in
Research Club
- Session topic: TBC
- Thursday 26 February, 14:00 – 15:00, Online - All welcome - Enroll in the Research Club
Marooned
- A filmed reading of the play ‘Marooned’ and discussion, hosted jointly by the IoPPN, 10 Windsor Walk and the Institute of Psychoanalysis.
- Tuesday 4 March 4, 19:00 – 22:00; Auditorium, Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG - Register for Marooned
Ask the Expert: Anxiety in pregnancy and motherhood research webinar
- The public is invited to a webinar to ask questions of a leading specialist about the latest research into anxiety in pregnancy and motherhood. Hosted by NIHR ARC South London and NIHR Maudsley BRC. Tuesday 11 March 2025, 19:00 – 20:00, Online - Register for Ask the Expert
Pioneering Approaches in Experimental and Translational Medicine: A Two-Day Course
- This two-day, in-person course aims to inspire and prepare researchers embarking on careers in translational and experimental medicine approaches to psychiatric and neurological conditions.
- Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March 2025, Great Hall, Strand Campus, King’s College London - Register for the course
Public and Community Engagement in Research Workshop
- An introduction to inclusive involvement in research, hosted by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Shaping our Lives.
- Tuesday 25 March, 9:30am - 1:30pm, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road London SE5 9RS – Register
