Research that makes a difference

We work hard to improve the lives of people with mental disorders - and their loved ones - through high-quality scientific research. We want to improve our ability to deliver the most effective and safest intervention possible for each young person struggling with poor mental health.

Our guiding principles

• From you and for you. Our research is informed by the needs of young people: we ask volunteers and service-users to help us improve our research by listening about what is truly important to them.
• High-impact research. We prioritize high-impact research to ensure our findings inform real-world clinical practices, shape mental health standards and introduce new evidence-based treatments.
• Honesty and integrity. We conduct data-driven research with the highest levels of integrity: being honest about what we currently know, what we do not know, and how we can find the answers.
• Diversity. We celebrate and welcome diversity in our team, which is formed by people from all over the World.
• Ongoing collaboration. We collaborate with universities and research centres, industry leaders, policymakers and service users around the World.
• State-of-the-art research methods. We make use of the latest and safest research methods and technology available.
• Clinical focus. We integrate our research with clinical services within the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust – the largest provider of mental health services in the UK.
• Training for the future. We train the future mental health researchers and practitioners, keeping an ongoing interaction between current and new generations.
• Constant learning. We never stop learning and finding better ways to do things!

Our research equipment and facilities

Our research team is based in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), located at King's College London's Denmark Hill Campus.

Neuroimaging facilities

We collaborate closely with the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences (CNS). The CNS is a joint venture of the King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM).

We have access to the latest neuroimaging equipment for advanced clinical and research use. All equipment is operated by certified research staff.

At first I was a bit concerned as it was my first time having a brain scan. The research staff were very helpful and nice. Before I did the first one they let me do a practice scan to make sure I was comfortable. Then, the actual experience was very interesting and even relaxing, which I did not expect. Afterwards, I was given a picture of my brain. I love that picture!

David, volunteer

What is it like to have a brain scan?

This video has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.

Downloadable materials:

• What happens when I have an MRI scan?
• MRI myths

These materials were produced by staff at King's College London's Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, working with research participants, researchers, and people with experience of mental illness.