NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

“It was truly inspiring to hear such a rich range of presentations from across different BRC Themes and research groups. The day was a powerful reminder of the creativity and commitment driving efforts to advance equality, diversity and inclusion across our BRC.”

CEDI Impact Award 2025 winners announced

Congratulations to the winners of our CEDI Impact awards: The RE-STAR team, Dr Naghmeh Nikkheslat and Niamh Molloy.

Read more: www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/d...

A new spinout @cogstack.bsky.social is unlocking the power of healthcare data through #AI to transform clinical care. Read our story to discover more.
tinyurl.com/57ce8x43

@kingshealth.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) Impact Awards. Three diverse women sitting in a cafe talking.

Join us to celebrate our #CEDI Impact Awards on Wed 3 Dec!

The awards recognise research supported by the NIHR Maudsley BRC which has demonstrated measurable impact in advancing CEDI principles.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/culture-eq... @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Voice and Speech Analysis: Insights and Challenges for Health Research

How can voice and speech analysis transform health research? Join leading experts at our Voice and Speech Analysis: Insights and Challenges for Health Research on Wednesday 3 December to explore this topic.

📅 Wed 3 Dec 2025, 12 to 5pm
Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voice-and-...

@nickcummins41.bsky.social and @judedineley.bsky.social are leading a symposium on 3rd December in London for @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social, all about what speech and the voice can tell us about health. You do not want to miss this!

@kingsioppn.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voice-and-...

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, we shared new research into #loneliness and substance use in a #zine-making workshop, bringing together people with lived experience to create and connect.

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/n... @kingscsmh.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) Impact Awards. Three diverse women sitting in a cafe talking.

Join us to celebrate our #CEDI Impact Awards on Wed 3 Dec!

The awards recognise research supported by the NIHR Maudsley BRC which has demonstrated measurable impact in advancing CEDI principles.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/culture-eq... @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Read about public involvement in the RELAX study, which is testing a form of ‘brain training’ designed to reduce anxiety in pregnant woman and new mothers, here: arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk/news-insight...

@nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social

#holisticmaternity

From Lab to Lifesaver: Rethinking how we detect and respond to opioid overdose

Researchers from our Pain and Addictions theme are exploring innovative ways to prevent opioid #overdose, by using remote monitoring technology and improving the accessibility of antidotes.

➡️ www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/o...

🚨The deadline for #CEDI Award submissions has been extended until Monday 27 October, 12pm.

First prize will receive £1,000 towards training/conference attendance. Submit your entry online: maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/equ... @kingsioppn.bsky.social

'It gave me my voice back': How group singing is helping new mums with postnatal depression New research suggests singing can be clinically effective at treating the symptoms and cost effective for the NHS.

'It gave me my voice back': How group singing is helping new mums with postnatal depression

#IoPPNInTheNews

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Group singing reduces symptoms of postnatal depression for up to six months .“Singing in Breathe Melodies for Mums gave me a space for all my feelings. The songs helped me process the trauma of my son's birth and gave me a powerful tool for bonding with him. Even now when he's unsettled I sing songs from Melodies.” Girija, a mother who took part in the singing group

Around 24% of mothers experience postnatal depression, which can have long-lasting impacts.

New research has shown that a community-based singing group - Breathe Melodies for Mums - has helped reduce depressive symptoms for up to 6 months.

➡️ www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/o...

🌈 New publication alert!

“Development of a natural language processing application for LGBTQ+ status in mental health records”: rb.gy/xzl7k0

This work will support better understanding of mental health inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ people.

@krimes.bsky.social @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social

Mental Health Research – Develop your career. Change lives.

Happy #WorldMentalHealthDay! 🌍

Do you have a passion for mental health research? 🌱 The MHR Incubator helps current & aspiring researchers explore #careerdevelopment & funding opportunities!

Read career advice & learn more on our website 📖 :

YouTube video by CAMHS Digital Lab RESEARCH EXPLORED: The Five Minute Speech Sample

WATCH NOW 🎥

It's finally here: our first RESEARCH EXPLORED video. Produced in partnership with @elstreescreenarts.bsky.social, this RESEARCH EXPLORED video dives into a project at @kingsioppn.bsky.social looking at 'expressed emotion' - how parents talk about their children.

youtu.be/HVGUd0ipJv0

zine workshop: stories of loneliness and substance use

✂️Join us for a creative workshop exploring new research into #loneliness and substance use.

Hosted by NIHR Maudsley BRC researchers, Artizine and McPin Foundation | Part of #ESRCFestival of Social Science

🗓️Tues 4 Nov, 2-6pm
📍Peckham Levels
🎟️Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/zine-makin...

Prediction Modelling presentations: Polygenic Scores in Practice: Standardisation, Missing Variants, and Lessons from GenoPred

Join a #PredictionModelling presentation with Dr oliverpain.bsky.social (Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow @kingsioppn.bsky.social ) discussing Polygenic scores and learnings from his work developing the #GenoPred pipeline.

➡️Wed 1 Oct, 3-4pm, Online
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/polyg...

Title page against blue background with the heading: "No link between tylenol during pregnancy and autism"

“Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy.” King's expert Professor Gráinne McAlonan, @kingsioppn.bsky.social, has been speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live about the evidence that taking paracetamol (known as Tylenol in the US) is harmless during pregnancy.

@nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social

IN THE NEWS: "There is no scientific evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism ... We think that the most likely explanation of autism is that it results from a really complex mix of genes and the environment.” Professor Gráinne McAlonan Director, NIHR Maudsley BRC

Prof Gráinne McAlonan, Director of NIHR Maudsley BRC, discusses the claims that taking paracetamol while pregnant causes #autism on @bbc5live.bsky.social

@nihr.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @rickedwards1.bsky.social

Listen at 1:46:24 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 📻

Photo of people in a coffee shop talking and smiling

Our Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) Impact Award is now open for submissions.

The award celebrates the efforts of researchers who have made significant contributions to research, and demonstrate impact in advancing CEDI principles.

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/equ...

Psychological support could improve care for people with kidney disease, new study shows. “Too often, psychological support only reaches people once they have kidney failure. Our research shows the benefits of bringing this support earlier, helping people feel more in control, stay physically active, and potentially reduce the impact of chronic kidney disease on daily life..” Pooja Schmill, NIHR Maudsley BRC Doctoral Student at the IoPPN and lead author of the study

A new systematic review shows psychological support matters in #KidneyDisease care.

CBT, self-confidence training and exercise programmes help people with chronic kidney disease feel more confident, improve mood and enhance physical function.

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/s...

What we do (and don't know) about autism and ageing – new research Autism is often thought of as a childhood condition, but this is far from true. Autism is a lifelong condition – and most autistic people are adults. Yet less than 1% of autism research has focused on...

Most #autism research focuses on young people, so we know very little about about the needs of autistic adults as they age, writes @gavrobstew.bsky.social in the @uk.theconversation.com.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/what-we...

Around 90% of middle-aged and older autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK, new review finds 89 to 97 per cent of autistic adults aged 40+ years are undiagnosed in the UK, according to the largest review of its kind. The review indicated that middle-aged and older autistic adults are facing h...

Around 90% of middle-aged and older autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK and need better support, new research from @kingsioppn.bsky.social and @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social finds.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/up-to-9...

Around 90% of middle-aged and older autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK / "Understanding the needs of autistic people as they age is a pressing global public health concern. As autistic people age, the nature of the challenges they face changes. We must adopt a lifespan approach that funds long-term research, integrates tailored healthcare, and expands social supports so that ageing autistic people can live happy and healthy lives." / Professor Francesca Happé, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, King’s IoPPN and Co-author

Around 90% of middle-aged and older #autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK and face higher rates of mental and physical health conditions.

Research led by Dr Gavin Stewart & Prof Francesca Happé; funded by @britishacademy.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/a...

Graphic from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) featuring the NIHR logo and a quote from Professor Robert Stewart, applied informatics lead at ARC South London. The quote reads: “Effective data linkage is essential to track patient journeys across primary and secondary care and assess the impact of remote consultations on their outcomes. The establishment of a new network of Secure Data Environments should improve access to NHS data through shared and secure working practices, including sharing methods and coding.” To the right, there is an illustration of a computer screen showing a video consultation between a patient (represented with a house icon) and a healthcare provider (represented with a medical cross icon). Speech bubbles indicate communication between them.

Issues with data quality are limiting our ability to effectively evaluate the impact of remote consultations in England, say researchers from the three NIHR London ARCs 👇

arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk/news-insight...

Recognising loneliness in people with substance use disorders “Our findings show that loneliness is a significant risk factor for increased mental health symptoms and poorer healthcare outcomes in people with substance use disorders. This highlights the importance of routinely asking about, and recording, patients’ feelings of loneliness which can often be overlooked in discussions in healthcare services.” Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, NIHR Maudsley BRC CEDI Lead

New research has found that #loneliness is a risk factor for poorer healthcare outcomes in people with substance use disorders.

The study used data from @maudsleynhs.bsky.social, accessed via the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) platform.

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/a...

Doctors call for improved physical health monitoring for people prescribed psychiatric medication 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 monit...

Researchers and doctors from @kingsioppn.bsky.social, in a new @thelancet.com Commission, call for improved physical health monitoring for people prescribed psychiatric medication

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/doctors...

From Patient to Partner The path through mental illness can be isolating, disorienting, and equally profoundly transformative. For those of us who have navigated the complexities of psychosis, crisis care, and prolonged inte...

In today's article, @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social PhD student Jason Grant-Knowles highlights his journey into the world of #Patient&PublicInolvement, discussing the depth that #LivedExperience can add to theoretical #Knowledge.

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/from-pa...

Under-the-skin electrode allows for real-world epilepsy tracking New research has found that an electronic device placed under the scalp is an effective and feasible means of accurately tracking epilepsy.

Treating #epilepsy can be difficult, but a new landmark study from IoPPN, with @epilepsyfoundation.bsky.social and @mayoclinic.org, has tested a breakthrough technology that accurately records seizures and leads the way for optimised epilepsy treatment #MedSky

Read: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/under-t...

🚨 My new paper is out! | Oliver Pain, PhD posted on the topic | LinkedIn 🚨 My new paper is out! 🧬 Improving polygenic score (PGS) accuracy and equity across ancestrally diverse populations — with and without individual-level tuning data.  I benchmarked leading single-sou...

Do you analyse #polygenic scores across ancestry groups? See Oliver Pain's extension to the GenoPred pipeline, with recommendations for good practice and efficient analysis. @oliverpain.bsky.social
🔗 Paper: lnkd.in/evJ9daBF
🔗 GenoPred pipeline: lnkd.in/eKwFr9kQ

www.linkedin.com/posts/oliver...