I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Independent Medical Expert Group and look forward to working with the Group over the coming years in this position. It is an honour to take on this responsibility and be part of this valuable and challenging work.
Professor Nicola Fear, Co-Director of King’s Centre for Military Health Research, IoPPN
06 October 2025
Professor Nicola Fear CBE appointed as Chair of the Independent Medical Expert Group
Professor Fear began her appointment as Chair of the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) from 19 September for a period of three years.
The IMEG provides independent evidence-based advice to Minister for Veterans and People on the medical and scientific aspects of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and related matters, so that AFCS policy and individual decision making reflects the most up to date medical understanding on causation and progression of disorders.
Members of the IMEG alongside the chair include senior licensed medical consultants drawn from relevant specialities including trauma/orthopaedics, neurology, audio vestibular/audiological medicine, occupational medicine and mental health. The group also includes a member representing the ex-service organisations and 3 ex officio members: the Chief of Defence People’s Medical Adviser; a service representative who sits on the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation (CAC); and an injured serving person who has claimed under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
Professor Nicola Fear CBE is Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Military Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London.
Nicola has also worked as an epidemiologist for the Leukaemia Research Fund (University of Leeds) and the UK Ministry of Defence. Since 2011, Professor Fear has been Director of the King’s Centre of Military Health Research (KCMHR) alongside Professor Sir Simon Wessely.
Professor Fear’s appointment as Chair of the Independent Medical Expert Group to the Minister for Defence is testament to her superb work within the King’s Centre for Military Health Research, and the tremendous impact it has had on the lives of armed forces personnel. We all feel proud of her achievement as she takes on this national leadership role in Government to translate her academic expertise directly to the benefit of UK veterans’ health.
Professor Ed Bullmore, Head of School of Academic Psychiatry, IoPPN
Nicola is one of the Principal Investigators on the KCMHR military cohort study and leads several studies looking at the impact of military service on families. Over twenty years, the KCMHR cohort study remains the key longitudinal source of data informing the UK Government and voluntary sector policies and service provision along with leading the way in academic research.
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Professor of Epidemiology