Professor Jonna Kuntsi PhD

Jonna Kuntsi is Professor of Developmental Disorders and Neuropsychiatry at the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. She first joined the Centre as a Lecturer, following training (BSc, MSc, PhD) and positions at University College London and the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

Her research focuses on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disorders that often co-occur with ADHD, which range from other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, such as autism and depression, to physical conditions, such as cardiometabolic disease. She takes a developmental approach, studying the disorders and traits from childhood to adulthood. An example is her research on the persistence and remittance of ADHD. Etiological studies range from sibling and twin studies to polygenic risk studies and an investigation of preterm birth as a risk factor. She also has a strong interest in protective factors and studies, for example, the effects of physical activity on ADHD symptoms and associated impairments. Another interest is the development of digital, cognitive, neural and clinical markers in ADHD and overlapping conditions. She also investigates the relative age effect – the long-term disadvantages for the individuals who were the youngest in a school class.

A major focus currently is the development and application of a novel remote measurement technology system for ADHD and associated disorders and traits (for ages 16+).

She is on the Steering Committee and a Principal Investigator in many international research networks, including the European ADHD network ‘Eunethydis’ (https://eunethydis.eu/), the International Multi-centre Persistent ADHD Collaboration ‘IMpACT’ (https://www.impactadhdgenomics.com/) and the ECNP ADHD across the Lifespan Network (https://www.ecnp.eu/research-innovation/ECNP-networks/List-ECNP-Networks/ADHD-across-lifespan-network). She actively collaborates with patient advocacy organisations, including ADHD Europe (https://adhdeurope.eu/) and the UK ADHD Information and Support Service (http://www.addiss.co.uk/), and with SMEs, such as Empatica (www.empatica.com/).

Research groups:

Leads the ADHD Remote Technology (ART) group with Professor Richard Dobson.

Areas of PhD supervision include:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ADHD
• Remote measurement technology for ADHD and related disorders
• Long-term outcomes: persistence vs remittance of ADHD in adulthood
• Preterm birth as a risk factor for ADHD and impairments in cognitive and brain function
• Co-occurrence of ADHD symptoms with other disorders, such as bipolar disorder and autism
• Effects of physical activity on cognition, brain function and ADHD symptoms

Teaching:

• Teaching on neurodevelopmental disorders on iBSc and MSc courses
• PhD Admissions & Subcommittees