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Dr James Rucker

James Rucker

Consultant Psychiatrist & Senior Clinical Lecturer

Research interests

  • Psychiatry

Biography

James Rucker qualified in medicine at University College London in 2003. He joined King’s College London as a junior psychiatric trainee in 2005. After attaining membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2007 he was awarded a research training fellowship by the Wellcome Trust, completing a PhD in psychiatric genetics in 2012 under emeritus Professor Peter McGuffin. He completed his higher psychiatric training in general adult and old age psychiatry at Springfield and St George’s Hospital between 2014 and 2018 before being awarded an NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship in 2017 to investigate the safety and efficacy of the active component of magic mushrooms (psilocybin) in a randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. Here, he leads the PsychoactiveTrials Group at the Centre for Affective Disorders with Professor Allan Young. His clinical and academic expertise is in mood disorders across the adult lifespan, novel psychopharmacological approaches in resistant forms of depression and related conditions, clinical trials in drug assisted forms of psychotherapy and the use of MDMA, ketamine and cannabinoids to treat mental health conditions. He is an honorary consultant psychiatrist at the National and Specialist Tertiary Referrals Affective Disorders Service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.  

Research Interests

  • Mood disorders across the lifespan 
  • Novel psychopharmacological approaches to treatment resistant forms of mood disorders and related conditions 
  • Clinical trials combining psychotherapy with psychedelics, MDMA, cannabinoids and ketamine related compounds. 

 

Research Groups 

The Psychoactive Trials Group 

    Research

    brain trees
    Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD)

    The Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD) focuses on mood and anxiety disorders, common disorders which cause great suffering for many people.

    News Story Images -14
    Psychoactive Trials Group

    Psychedelic Trials Group at the IoPPN

    News

    New psychedelics and mental health research centre officially opens

    The Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation officially opened on 15 November 2023 to accelerate research into psychedelics and develop new models of...

    COMPASS Centre reception

    Lord O'Shaughnessy visits King's College London and the NIHR King's Clinical Research Facility

    Lord O’Shaughnessy, Former Health Minister and Senior Partner at consultancy firm Newmarket Strategy visited IoPPN and the NIHR King's Clinical Research...

    Lord O’Shaughnessy with King's College academics

    Largest trial to date shows that psilocybin reduces depression symptoms

    A new multicentre clinical trial led by COMPASS Pathways across 22 international sites, including the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience...

    Spilled medication and bottle

    Pioneering trial of MDMA treatment hopes to help veterans with PTSD

    A new trial exploring the potential use of MDMA to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has started at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

    blue brain outline

    Psilocybin, in 10mg or 25mg doses, has no short- or long-term detrimental effects in healthy people

    Psilocybin can be safely administered at doses of either 10mg or 25mg to up to six participants simultaneously.

    drug bottles hero

    Events

    20AprDenmark Hill campus sign

    Demystifying Impact

    This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.

    Please note: this event has passed.

      Research

      brain trees
      Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD)

      The Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD) focuses on mood and anxiety disorders, common disorders which cause great suffering for many people.

      News Story Images -14
      Psychoactive Trials Group

      Psychedelic Trials Group at the IoPPN

      News

      New psychedelics and mental health research centre officially opens

      The Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation officially opened on 15 November 2023 to accelerate research into psychedelics and develop new models of...

      COMPASS Centre reception

      Lord O'Shaughnessy visits King's College London and the NIHR King's Clinical Research Facility

      Lord O’Shaughnessy, Former Health Minister and Senior Partner at consultancy firm Newmarket Strategy visited IoPPN and the NIHR King's Clinical Research...

      Lord O’Shaughnessy with King's College academics

      Largest trial to date shows that psilocybin reduces depression symptoms

      A new multicentre clinical trial led by COMPASS Pathways across 22 international sites, including the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience...

      Spilled medication and bottle

      Pioneering trial of MDMA treatment hopes to help veterans with PTSD

      A new trial exploring the potential use of MDMA to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has started at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

      blue brain outline

      Psilocybin, in 10mg or 25mg doses, has no short- or long-term detrimental effects in healthy people

      Psilocybin can be safely administered at doses of either 10mg or 25mg to up to six participants simultaneously.

      drug bottles hero

      Events

      20AprDenmark Hill campus sign

      Demystifying Impact

      This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.

      Please note: this event has passed.