We are delighted to announce the 2026 UKIMS (UK and Ireland Marce Society for perinatal mental health) Conference which will be taking place on Friday 6 February 2026 from 9am-5pm at the Great Hall, Strand Campus, King’s College London, followed by a drinks reception.

Our two keynote speakers will be discussing the latest findings on new and innovative psychological interventions for perinatal anxiety and depression.

Benefits of attending:

1. Network with others working in the field.
2. Learn about the latest research in the area.
3. Discuss with colleagues the clinical and policy implications of new research findings.  

The conference is aimed at those working in perinatal mental health (clinicians, researchers and policy makers) to learn about the latest research in the area.

The event is open to Marce Society members and non-members though we advise joining for all the benefits of our Society. To join the Marce Society please go to: https://marcesociety.com/registration/

Catering will include lunch, refreshments and a drinks reception at the end of the conference.

Marce members - £45

Non-Marce members- £105

Please note, this is an in-person only event.

 

Programme

9.00 Registration and refreshments

9.15 DR CLAIRE WILSON, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Welcome

9.20 DR GABRIELLA LEWIS, SOUTH LONDON & MAUDSLEY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Long term clinical outcomes of postnatal psychosis

DR CLAUDIA AYMERICH, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Perceived control and security during childbirth and symptoms 10 weeks postpartum

MADELINE KIRKPATRICK, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Music interventions for PND and effect on salivary cytokines and cortisol

ALYSSA DESPOTIS, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Worries about labour and associations with postnatal mental health in England

DR HAMILTON MORRIN, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Hyperemesis & mental health outcomes

DR JUAN CHART PASCUAL, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Exploring public discourse on perinatal mental health on social media

10.50 - 11.20 BREAK

11.20 KEYNOTE: PROFESSOR COLETTE HIRSCH, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Looking on the bright side: developing and testing a novel digital intervention for perinatal anxiety

12.00 DR BILLIE LEVER TAYLOR, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Mothers on the margins

DR EMILY EISNER, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Digital assessment of wellbeing in new parents

YAFA AJWEH, GAZA INFANT NUTRITION ALLIANCE (GINA) Digital villages of care in Gaza

12.45 - 14.00 LUNCH

SORCHA ALFORD, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Impact of lifetime and antenatal pathology on mother infant interaction

DR SONYA RUDRA, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Prevalence of mental disorders in parents with intellectual disabilities in the perinatal period

NATASHA BAKER, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Feeding outcomes in women with or without serious mental illness

GABI GRIBBIN, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Nature and experience of postnatal intrusive images

LOUISE FISHER, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Access to and engagement with psychological interventions after childbirth related trauma

PAULA DE JUAN IGLESIAS, UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA Exploring public discourse on perinatal mental health on social media

DR LIZ DUDENEY, CITY ST GEORGE'S, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON New directions for the EPDS

RIDDHI LAIJAWALA, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Treatment of antenatal depression

DR SARAH TAI, NORTH LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST ADHD in pregnancy

DR KAAT DE BACKER, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Maternal mortality in the context of Children’s social care involvement

15.00 KEYNOTE: PROFESSOR NUSRAT HUSAIN UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Addressing inequities in postnatal depression: The ROSHNI Trials

15.40 - 16.10 BREAK

16.10 DR JARED MAINA, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Disentangling perinatal depression from major depression

DR KETEVAN MARR, FRENCH INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH, PARIS Early childhood outcomes after treated and untreated prenatal mental health difficulties

JENNY GONG, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Birth outcomes for women with preexisting mental health problems

16.55 DR CLAIRE WILSON, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Closing Remarks

17.00 DRINKS RECEPTION