Research Roundup – August/September 2025
Welcome to the latest research round-up from South London and Maudsley, featuring updates from our Research and Development team, as well as news and events from across the Trust and our partners.
In the Trust, we are proud to offer our staff a wide range of opportunities to engage with research - either as part of their everyday roles or as a pathway to longer-term career development. We have particularly strong representation in nursing, thanks in large part to the leadership of Carrie-Ann Black, our Head of Nursing for Research and Quality. Nurses make up half of our Research Champions network, and we have introduced research pathways for student nurses, as well as dedicated programmes of education or training in collaboration with south London partners. Currently, 11 nurses f rom the Trust are either enrolled in or preparing to begin places on these courses, to take the next step towards a clinical academic career.
Carrie-Ann Black, Head of Nursing for Research and Quality, South London and Maudsley, said:
I can’t unpack being involved in research and being a nurse – being a nurse makes me a better researcher and vice versa; the two are inextricably linked. Although there are differences between clinical practice and research, they’re both aiming for the same thing – to improve people’s lives. It’s incredible that in the Trust we are able to offer so many opportunities to be involved in research alongside clinical interventions.
Read more about the ways the Trust is empowering nurses to develop their research skills and career pathways in this blog post here .
In August, the first cohort of the new Maudsley Psychiatry Residents Research Attachment Programme started. Through this programme, psychiatry trainees can explore research opportunities at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN ) and collaborating departments, with a view to building their research skills over a period of three years. Residents work together with leading researchers and plan their involvement in a wide range of research projects, developing their research and academic skills while fostering an integrated approach to clinical and academic work . Read more about the programme here.
We wish the new psychiatry trainee cohort, and our nurses the very best of luck as they pursue their research pathways.
— Professor Fiona Gaughran, Director of Research and Development
Updates from the Research and Development team
New SharePoint site with guidance from the Joint R&D Office of SLaM/IoPPN
The Joint Research and Development Office of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are constantly developing our support for researchers wishing to undertake research projects within the Trust.
We have created a new SharePoint site to communicate our guidance, processes and events with our IoPPN and SLaM researchers, including students. This site functions as a ‘one stop shop’ for outlining the Joint R&D Office functions, a repository for sponsorship guidance, C&C guidance, amendment guidance and EDGE guidance.
You can visit the SharePoint site here: Joint R&D Office home
Please note the above link is through King’s College London. SLaM staff who do not have a King's e-mail account can request access to the SharePoint pages via this form.
Take part in mental health research
Life changing research needs everyone to get involved. In 2024-25, over 6.4k people took part in a research study at South London and Maudsley.
Search for a study on our website.
Featured study | CONNECT: using electronic devices (e.g smartphones, smartwatches) to predict relapse of psychosis
The study aims to see whether we can use information from electronic devices (e.g. smartphones, smartwatches) to predict if someone will have a relapse of psychosis. Find out more about the CONNECT study here. And do get in touch if you think you might like to take part
Clinical informatics to support direct care and population health: the VIEWER story
Research news from the Trust
Developing clinical informatics to support direct care and population health management: the VIEWER story
This paper, led by Rob Harland, Caldicott Guardian at SLaM, with colleagues from South London and Maudsley and King’s IoPPN, shows the work of the VIEWER team to successfully draw out clinically useful information from health records . The VIEWER system has been rolled out in the Trust, now known as LUCI – Locating Useful Clinical Information . LUCI is a clinical insights tool that presents clinicians and managers with data from the Trust's electronic patient record to help them make informed decisions about clinical care and service delivery.
Racial discrimination may increase psychosis risk (25 Sept 2025)
Being racially or ethnically discriminated against may increase the risk of later developing psychotic symptoms, finds a major review of international evidence . “Racism is a global threat to society. This review shines a spotlight on the threat it poses to our mental health. A message that should not be overlooked is that racism is neither inevitable nor a disease, but if left unchecked its human costs are substantial.” - Dr Juliana Onwumere, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at South London and Maudsley and Senior Author.
Experts gather to discuss innovations and strategies to detect and prevent opioid overdose deaths (19 Sept 2025)
On Thursday 4 September, King’s hosted a conference with clinicians, policy makers and researchers to share and discuss the latest innovations and strategies to detect and prevent opioid overdose deaths , focusing on Naloxone, an emergency antidote for opioid overdose.
Clinicians, policy makers and researchers discuss Naloxone and other strategies to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
Experts discuss social media use and mental health in children and young people (19 Sept 2025)
Watch the webinar: Experts from King’s College London, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Macquarie University Australia discussed the science, policy and practical approaches to supporting children’s mental health in a digital age.
Severe pregnancy sickness raises risk of mental health conditions by over 50% (19 Sept 2025)
Researchers from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London conducted a study involving 476.8k pregnant women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) from 135 healthcare providers worldwide. The study is the first to explore an array of neuropsychiatric and mental health outcomes for women with HG.
Digital health and CAMHS: Unpacking the Government’s 10-year Health Plan – Part 1 (4 Sept 2025)
The CAMHS Digital Lab, as part of the King's Maudsley Partnership, reflected on the NHS 10-Year Plan’s digital ambitions for children’s mental health , highlighting progress and ongoing challenges for digital care.
New clinical research network holds promise for advancing eating disorder treatment (26 Aug 2025)
The Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London aims to establish a UK-wide NHS research network spanning child and adult eating disorder services. In this blog, members of the network discuss how and why they are bringing together standardised information about patients treated in services across the UK.
Doctors call for improved physical health monitoring for people prescribed psychiatric medication (13 Aug 2025)
A major new Lancet Commission has called for people taking psychiatric medications — such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers - to receive proactive, ongoing physical health monitoring and support. It was co-led by experts from South London and Maudsley, King’s College London, the University of Oxford, and the University of Queensland. It sets out practical recommendations for clinicians to manage the physical side effects of psychiatric drugs while preserving their mental health benefits.
Doctors call for improved physical health monitoring for people prescribed psychiatric medication
Research News from our Partners
Research news from King’s IoPPN, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Maudsley Charity and NIHR King’s Clinical Research Facility (CRF).
- Societal inequality linked to structural brain changes in children (30 Sept 2025)
- Maudsley Charity Building Brighter Futures £7.5m funding awarded (25 Sept 2025)
- Targeting brain waves to reduce cognitive challenges in ADHD (9 Sept 2025)
- Around 90% of middle-aged and older autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK, new review finds (29 Aug 2025)
- Largest ever study into cannabis use investigates risk of paranoia and poor mental health in the general population (27 Aug 2025)
- Bridging the gap: What public mental health training exists around the world? (26 August 2025)
- Professor Emmanuelle Peters delivers Inaugural Lecture "Making sense of psychosis” (25 August 2025)
In the Media
BBC Radio 4: What's Up Docs?
Can psychedelics improve your mental health?
Chris and Xand Van Tulleken meet Dr James Rucker, a Consultant Psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley and Senior Clinical Lecturer at King’s College London, who is leading the European arm of a global trial of psilocybin in a study designed to treat people with treatment resistant depression, at the Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation.
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 24 September 2025
Professor Grainne McAlonan, Director of the NIHR Maudsley BRC, discusses the claims that taking paracetamol while pregnant causes autism in children. Listen at 1:46:24
Events and Opportunities
Join the Research at the Trust Viva Engage group to get the latest updates (SLaM staff only).
NIHR South London Health and Care Professional Internship Programme
Are you interested in research or evidence-informed practice? A new funded internship programme, hosted by ACORN at Guy’s & St Thomas’ and funded by the NIHR, will provide structured training and support for health and care professionals who are new to research or looking to develop their skills.
Deadline for submission is Sunday 26 October, 5pm – more information
ADHD: New Discoveries, Better Support
Join us for an eye-opening event on ADHD where you'll discover the latest findings and find ways to offer better support. Hosted by the King’s Maudsley Partnership, this webinar brings together leading experts, lived experience, and digital innovation to reshape how we understand and support young people with ADHD.
Tuesday 4 November, 1 - 2pm, Online - Register
ISAD London 2025: Mapping the Future of Affective Disorder Treatments
ISAD Events are amongst the foremost mood disorders meetings, gathering the Affective Disorders community to share latest research, clinical expertise and discuss future directions.
Friday 7 and Saturday 8 November 2025 , ORTUS – Register
EDIFY: Shaping a Better Future for Young People with Eating Disorders
One-day conference and associated arts event, sharing key findings from the flagship EDIFY programme: Shaping a Better Future for Young People with Eating Disorders: Insights from four years of cross-disciplinary research, driving a step change in prevention and early intervention
Thursday 22 January 2025 , 9.30am - 4pm, Great Hall, Strand Campus, King’s College London - Register
