Our Research

We are researching new tests, treatments and technologies to better understand and support mental health conditions across the lifespan.

Happy Father and Son in Consultation with doctor

Our aim is to accelerate the translation of the latest scientific discoveries into early stage clinical trials and other well-designed studies of the latest interventions in the field of mental health and neurological conditions.

By bringing together scientists and clinicians from different disciplines, these findings can then be further developed, evaluated and implemented in the NHS, to provide better diagnosis and treatment options for people with mental health conditions and neurological disorders. 

Our research themes are supporting mental health across the lifespan:

lifespane diagram themes

Research outputs

Explore more detail about research outputs and researchers at the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre on the King’s College London Research Portal – Pure. It hosts a wide range of research information such as research outputs for individuals and research groups, funding details, as well as links to Open Access publications.

Our 10 research themes

We group our research into themes which focus on clinical conditions related to mental and brain health, and the technologies and methods used across our research.

Brain and Mental Health Brain and Mental Health

Child Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Many mental health conditions start in childhood. Our research is trying to find new ways of diagnosing, preventing and treating these conditions. This will help support people throughout their lives. We are also studying how young people’s minds develop, to offer insight into neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism.

Eating Disorders and Obesity

Eating disorders and obesity are serious health problems in the UK. The current treatments don’t work well for everyone. Our research focuses on creating better, more personalised treatments and new therapies. Our aim is to help people at every stage of illness.

Motor Neuron Disease

We are working on ways to speed up the testing of new drug treatments for people with motor neurone disease. This work is part of a UK-wide project called EXPERTS-ALS. We are measuring the effectiveness of these treatments by using a specific test developed by our researchers.

Pain and Addictions

Pain and addiction affects millions of lives globally. Our research brings together expertise across the biological, psychological and social fields. Our aim is to better understand and reduce the impacts of pain and addiction. 

Psychosis and Mood Disorders

We are developing safer, more effective ways to treat psychosis and mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder. Our research explores what causes these conditions. Our aims are to help diagnose these conditions earlier and to create treatments with the greatest benefits.

Methods and Technologies Methods and Technologies

Digital Therapies

Many people in England need mental health help, but a large number can’t access it. Digital therapies, including apps and online tools can make accessing treatment faster, easier, and fair for everyone.

Experimental Medicine and Therapeutics

We urgently need better treatments for mental health and brain conditions. Our research helps test novel therapies faster and more effectively. Our aim is to make it easier to develop treatments that truly help.

Informatics

We use data and technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to help carry out research in new, more effective ways. We bring together health information and large datasets, safely and securely, to learn more about mental health. This is improving care for people who need it.

Neuroimaging

Neuroimaging is a way of taking pictures of the brain to see how it works. Researchers use specialised techniques and different kinds of scanners to learn more about mental health. Neuroimaging also helps to diagnose conditions and see how treatments are working. 

Trials, Genomics and Prediction

We are using smart technology and health data to improve the design of trials, and develop more personal health care. Our research helps predict the risks of disease and improves treatments using genetics, apps, and real-time information. 

Research goals

We have 4 overarching goals:

New prevention and treatment approaches

We are developing innovative pharmacological, psychological, and digital interventions across disorders supported by our Experimental Medicine and Novel Therapeutics and Trials, Genomics and Prediction themes.

Precision Psychiatry

We are discovering targeted treatments by exploiting multimodal research data using neuroimaging, genomic, biomarker, cognitive, behavioural and remote-sensing data to identify intervention targets. This is sustained by methodology-orientated themes to provide unparalleled breadth and depth of phenotypic characterisation across disorders.

Translational Informatics

We are using real-world data and advanced analytics capabilities to guide clinical care and public health, supported by our Informatics and Digital Therapies themes.

Whole person care

We aim to improve physical health outcomes in psychiatric disorders and mental health outcomes in physical disorders, to address the considerable excess mortality in psychiatric disorders and the impact of mental ill-health on physical health outcomes.