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School of Neuroscience

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Building brains

Understanding how the human central nervous system (CNS) is built is one of the key remaining tasks in neurobiology. We investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of the nervous system. Our research focuses on brain regionalisation, tissue and cell morphogenesis, neurogenesis, neuronal fate specification and migration.

Our key questions:

What are the cellular and molecular mechanisms shaping the CNS?
How, and when, is cellular diversity defined and how is it tweaked by evolution?
What are the evolutionary dynamics controlling changes during CNS development?
How early in development are species-specific attributes defined? Are these developments irreversible?

Building brains is a key research theme of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which brings together world-leading researchers across King's College London.

Click people profiles to discover their research:

Professor Benedikt Berninger

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Jon Clarke

Professor of Anatomy
Dr Alessio Delogu

Reader in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Phillip Gordon-Weeks

Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Anthony Graham

Professor of Developmental Biology
Dr Fursham Hamid

Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Professor Corinne Houart

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Dr Dimitar Kostadinov

Wellcome Trust CDA Research Fellow
Dr Ivo Lieberam

Senior Lecturer
Dr Katie Long

Reader in Human Developmental Neuroscience
Professor Oscar Marín

Professor of Neuroscience
Dr Setsuko Sahara

Lecturer
Dr Andrea Serio

Reader in Neural Tissue Engineering
Dr Rita Sousa-Nunes

Lecturer in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Deepak Srivastava

Dean of Research Infrastructure
Professor Guy Tear

Professor of Molecular Neurobiology
Professor Sandrine Thuret

Professor of Neuroscience
Professor Jernej Ule

Van Geest Professor of Neurodegeneration Research
Dr Darren Williams

Reader in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Richard Wingate

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology

Early life and development

News and events

Leigh Wilson presenting at the DNA Create 2026 workshop

3 November 2026

Dr Leigh Wilson wins Society for Neuroscience: Science Educator Award

Dr Leigh Wilson, Public Engagement Manager and Teaching Fellow at King’s College London, has been…

4 Nov

Joint R&D Office drop in

Joint R&D Office Wednesday Walk-In

04 November 2026

Drop in and discuss your questions with the Joint R&D Office on the first Wednesday of every month.

18 Nov

Fran Denk Inaugural

Professor Franziska Denk - Inaugural Lecture

18 November 2026

Join us in celebrating Professor Denk's inaugural lecture on 'The origins of pain'

28 Jan

Brenda Williams inaugural

Professor Brenda Williams - Inaugural Lecture

28 January 2027

Join us in celebrating Professor Williams' inaugural lecture on 'Prepared for Chance: From Shaping…