Location: London, UK
Link: http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk

The IoP is a leading international research centre with a 5 star rating (the maximum) from the UK Government for the quality of its research. It is one of 9 Schools in King's College London. In the last decade, 343 students obtained a PhD degree, 43 of these in the last year. The School also has a yearly cohort of roughly 180 Master's degree students, 60 postgraduate diploma (PGDip) students and 20 candidates undertaking a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. The Eating Disorders Unit (EDU) serves a local population of 2 million people and is also a national centre, receiving 500 new referrals per annum. The Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the IoP is a leading behavioural research grouping. It has a unique blend of expertise encompassing social epidemiology, child and adult psychiatry, developmental psychopathology, cognitive and personality development, statistical and molecular genetics.

Research: The IoP Eating Disorders Team has a research portfolio, which includes biological (genetics, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, neuroendocrinology), psychological (cognition & emotion), social, epidemiological, psychotherapy and health services research. The aim is to develop integrated models of eating disorders which underpin more effective models of care and act as a catalyst for further research. The team attracts many trainees from abroad.

Training: The diversity of research endeavour and teaching provides academic staff and students with a milieu that supports advanced training and research. Training opportunities occur at various levels. The team has expertise in a broad range of research methodologies underpinning the above research portfolio. This provides opportunities for the ESRs in London and for study visits or secondments from collaborating centres. In the School, we also have a number of formal structures that support advanced level training. For example, formal taught programmes in statistics are regularly offered by our Biometrics Dept. We also run courses on writing (e.g. for grants, CV's), presentation skills, and specialised lab techniques. The SGDP runs summer schools on molecular and behavioural genetics. IoP courses are modularised and hence are highly suited for training.

The network team:

Scientist in Charge:

Ulrike Schmidt, Dr. med., PhD MRCPsych

Local coordintaors:

David Collier PhD

Janet Treasure PhD FRCP, FRCPsych

Iain Campbell PhD

Kate Tchanturia PhD

Early Stage Researchers:

Dr. Frederique Van den Eynde

Sietske Helder BSc, B Health Care

Local Scholars:

Lot Sternheim BA, MSc

Jemma Day BA, MSc

 

Intact Studies:

• Genetic and Proteomic Biomarkers of Eating disorders.

• The interrelationship between anxiety-related processes, stress reactivity, hyperactivity and clinical outcomes in in-patients with anorexia nervosa: A Process-Outcome Study.

Associated Studies:

• Improved understanding of the role of carers in eating disorder outcome and the development of interventions.
• Internet-based relapse prevention for people with severe anorexia.