Research Roundup: March – April 2026
Welcome to our regular research blog, featuring the latest findings, updates from our Research and Development team and opportunities to get involved for staff, service users, carers and the public.
Over the last few months, meeting the 150 ‑ day target for opening studies to recruitment has been a key focus for our Research and Development team. This was recently introduced by the UK government and will ultimately help improve care for patients and service users. When studies open more quickly, people can access research opportunities sooner – such as trying new treatments and therapies – and evidence will also be generated faster, allowing learning from research to be translated into clinical care.
To achieve this 150-day study set-up target, we have introduced a new integrated approach which streamlines how research is planned and delivered. The Home Trial is one example of this – this study is led by the NIHR Research Delivery Network and co-sponsored by SLaM and King’s College London. It’s testing a headset that uses mild electrical signals to help people with Major Depressive Disorder. Sponsorship for this study was achieved within 28 days (compared to the organisational target of 90 days), and following national HRA approval, issued its local Capacity and Capability (C&C) sign off in just 2 days, smashing the 60-day target. The study team recruited their first participant well within the 150-day study set-up target.
To read more about our Research and Development team and the work they are carrying out in the Trust to help bring innovative research and clinical benefits to patients, you can find the full news story alongside further updates below.
Professor Fiona Gaughran
Research and Development Director
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Updates from the Research and Development team
Findings of research studies at the Trust – new website page set up in response to feedback from research participants
For anyone who has taken part in a research study at the Trust, hearing about the outcomes of the research can be an important part of the process. In response to feedback from people who have taken part in research at the Trust, collected through our annual Participant in Research Experience Survey, we have created a new website page which features summaries of the findings of research supported by South London and Maudsley.
Joint Research and Development (R&D) Office of SLaM and King’s IoPPN update on 150-day target for clinical trial set-up
The Joint R&D Office has launched a new framework which is speeding up study set-up time, and helping the Trust meet the UK Government’s new 150-day target for setting up clinical trials with ease. Read the full news story with an example from the Home Trial here.
In March 2026, we have again improved our progress in reaching new targets from the UK government to speed up the time it takes to set up clinical trials:
NIHR Maudsley BRC launches new website
The NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. It carries out translational research into brain and mental health, focusing on ten research themes. The NIHR Maudsley BRC has launched a new website (pictured below), designed to support the BRC community by clearly presenting its research, expertise and impact to key audiences, including NIHR, collaborators, our partners and the public.
Take part in mental health research
Life-changing research needs everyone to get involved. We are proud to be the leading mental health Trust for research participation in England. Join a study and shape the future of mental health treatments and care: Search for a study on our website and sign up to our newsletter to get updates on new opportunities.
Become a Community Research Champion
Community Research Champions are volunteers who help promote research at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. If they have experience of taking part in research, they might also share their experience to inspire others. To find out more visit our Get Involved webpage here.
Maudsley Charity at the NHS Alliance Conference
Research news from the Trust and partners
Projects announced for Inclusive IoPPN Funding Call will bring together clinicians and academics (28 April 2026)
One of the funded projects aims to create inclusive, low-barrier spaces for clinicians and academics to connect , enabling South London and Maudsley NHS staff and trainees to engage with academic staff at King’s IoPPN and access pathways into research and teaching.
Mental health services must tackle poverty and isolation to improve outcomes, say researchers (27 April 2026)
UK Mental health services are not adequately addressing the social and economic needs of service users, despite these being important to recovery, according to a major new body of research from researchers at King’s IoPPN and South London and Maudsley . Surveys were carried out in the area served by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, alongside reviews of national and international evidence on what works to support people with mental health conditions. The first part of the ENRICHED programme sees the publication of a roadmap for embedding social and economic support into mental health care.
Maudsley Charity showcases South London and Maudsley racial equalities initiatives at NHS Alliance Conference (17 April)
The Maudsley Charity sponsored a session on implementing racial equalities initiatives at this year’s NHS Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Annual Conference 2026 in Birmingham. It featured insights from the implementation of the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) and Advance Choice Documents (ACDs). Read the Maudsley Charity’s news story to learn more.
Dr Laura Convertino talks about the ground-breaking Maudsley Psychiatry Research Attachment Programme (9 April 2026)
A pioneering initiative is transforming how trainees across South London and Maudsley and King’s College London engage with research. The programme helps bridge a gap by pairing trainees with research-active academics across King’s IoPPN and SLaM, and the response from both researchers and trainees has been overwhelmingly positive.
Professor Alastair Santhouse to champion public understanding of psychiatry in new role (1 April 2026)
Professor Alastair Santhouse, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at South London and Maudsley, has been appointed Professor of Practice in Public Understanding of Psychiatry at King’s College London – a dual role alongside his ongoing work at the Trust. His new role will focus on using his professional expertise and experience in the public sphere to promote the public understanding of psychiatry.
New Wellcome Discovery Award to map children's brain development (1 April 2026)
Researchers at King’s College London have secured more than £3.9 million from Wellcome to launch an ambitious new study that could transform understanding of how children’s brains develop. The study will explore why some young people show resilience while others become vulnerable to mental health difficulties. The research will be carried out in the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at the Pears Maudsley Centre, which will provide a highly specialised environment for paediatric research.
Remote consultations not associated with rise in psychiatric hospital admissions during COVID-19 (20 March 2026)
New research from South London and Maudsley and King’s IoPPN has found that the introduction of remote consultations in primary care during the pandemic wasn’t associated with an increase of psychiatric hospital admissions for people with anxiety, depression or severe mental illness.
Can our genes predict where mental illness affects the brain?
Researchers from the NIHR Maudsley BRC and King’s IoPPN have been exploring the relationship between the genetic risk of mental health conditions and the brain structures involved . The hope is that a new approach – GEDAR – can provide insight into why, when and how mental health and illness varies between individuals and over time.
Global task force agrees on key biological markers for anorexia (12 March 2026)
The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) has reached consensus on candidate biomarkers for anorexia nervosa and published a statement. Lead author on the consensus statement is Dr Hubertus Himmerich, Clinical Reader at the King’s IoPPN, Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and part of the NIHR Maudsley BRC’s theme on obesity and eating disorders.
EDIFY film showcases the power of integrating art into research (2 March 2026)
As part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the team from EDIFY partnered with Common Films to share a screening of a short film about the process of integrating art into science research. Over the last year, four artists in residence joined EDIFY, to help translate eating disorder experience and research into art. One of the four artists, Ivana Picek is a clinician in the Eating Disorders Service at South London and Maudsley.
Remote consultations not associated with rise in psychiatric hospital admissions during COVID-19 (20 March 2026)
New research from South London and Maudsley and King’s IoPPN has found that the introduction of remote consultations in primary care during the pandemic wasn’t associated with an increase of psychiatric hospital admissions for people with anxiety, depression or severe mental illness.
Can our genes predict where mental illness affects the brain?
Researchers from the NIHR Maudsley BRC and King’s IoPPN have been exploring the relationship between the genetic risk of mental health conditions and the brain structures involved. The hope is that a new approach – GEDAR – can provide insight into why, when and how mental health and illness varies between individuals and over time.
Global task force agrees on key biological markers for anorexia (12 March 2026)
The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) has reached consensus on candidate biomarkers for anorexia nervosa and published a statement. Lead author on the consensus statement is Dr Hubertus Himmerich, Clinical Reader at the King’s IoPPN, Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and part of the NIHR Maudsley BRC’s theme on obesity and eating disorders.
EDIFY film showcases the power of integrating art into research (2 March 2026)
As part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the team from EDIFY partnered with Common Films to share a screening of a short film about the process of integrating art into science research. Over the last year, four artists in residence joined EDIFY, to help translate eating disorder experience and research into art. One of the four artists, Ivana Picek is a clinician in the Eating Disorders Service at South London and Maudsley.
In the Media
BBC Science Focus, 5 April 2026: The unsettling truth about medical cannabis and mental health
The Guardian, 14 March 2026: New study raises concerns about AI chatbots fueling delusional thinking
Events and opportunities
Join the Research at the Trust Viva Engage group to get the latest updates (SLaM staff only).
Maudsley Talks: Dr Toby Pillinger, The Weight of Mental Illness: Why Treating the Body May Help the Mind
Wednesday 27 May, 6:00-7:30pm | Online, Teams | Register for Maudsley Talk
In his talk Dr Pillinger will explore the growing recognition that mental and physical health are deeply interconnected and discuss why people with serious mental illness face such extreme physical health inequalities.
Joint R&D Office Wednesday Walk ‑In
Dates: First Wednesday of each month, 10:00–15:00 | Upcoming: 3 June 2026 | Location: Room W1.12 (first floor, near the KCL SU), IoPPN Main Building
The Joint Research and Development Office (IoPPN & SLaM) supports researchers planning projects within the Trust, ensuring ethical, contractual, and regulatory compliance. Drop in with questions or email: slam-ioppn.research@kcl.ac.uk Event link
Opportunity: NIHR Masters for Research Delivery Leadership + Bursary Funding
The deadline for bursary applications is Wednesday 1 July 2026 - Find out more and apply
An opportunity is available for staff interested in stepping into leadership roles in research delivery through the NIHR Masters for Research Delivery Leadership (MRDL) programme.
64th Maudsley Debate : 'Assisted dying: This house believes Doctors should be legally permitted to assist terminally ill patients to end their life.’
3 June 2026, Wolfson Lecture Theatre, IoPPN Main Building – Register for the Maudsley Debate
King's Clinical Academic Training Office: Culturally Competent Research in Translational Medicine
(2-part workshop), 9 & 25 June 2026, Hodgkin Building, Classroom 15, Guy’s Campus – Register for workshop
This interactive, in‑person workshop series supports researchers working in translational medicine to develop practical, reflective and inclusive research practices.
King's Clinical Academic Research Symposium
22 June 2026, 12:30 to 19:00, Bush House, Strand Campus, London – Register for Symposium
Hear about the latest clinical academic research at King's Health Partners (KHP), and network with top academics from across the partnership.
King's Open Research Summer School 2026
22 - 24 July 2026, Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Denmark Hill Campus – Register for the Summer School
The King’s Open Research Summer School returns for a week of talks and practical training focused on improving the quality, transparency, and credibility of research.
