Professor Grainne McAlonan
Professor of Translational Neuroscience
- Interim Director, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
Research interests
- Mental Health
- Neuroscience
Contact details
Biography
Grainne McAlonan is Professor of Translational Neuroscience based in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. She is Interim Director of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
She studied Medicine at University of Cambridge and Imperial College London and completed a PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience at University of Cambridge. After clinical and research posts in the UK, she worked for over a decade in The University of Hong Kong before returning to the IoPPN. She uses MRI as a translational tool to link brain and behaviour in people with neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); and to ‘back’ (and ‘forward’) translate to laboratory models.
Her current research is informed by her work in the National ADHD and Autism Service for Adults at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and she is the Lead for the Child and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Theme in the NIHR Maudsley BRC. In May 2023 she was appointed to the newly created role of Deputy Director at the NIHR Maudsley BRC.
Professor McAlonan is a group leader within the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at IoPPN and is a lead investigator within the EU-AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium – a European network hosting the world’s largest grant for autism research. She is responsible for fetal/neonatal/infant brain imaging studies of children vulnerable to neurodevelopmental conditions and for pharmacology studies in adults with ASD.
Research Groups
NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/research/child-mental-health-and-neurodevelopmental-disorders/
Group Leader, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
https://devneuro.org/cndd/group-leaders-overview.php?groupID=114
AIMS-2-TRIALS Fetal/Neonatal and Shiftability studies Lead
https://www.aims-2-trials.eu/our-research/testing-new-medicines/gaba-studies/
https://www.aims-2-trials.eu/our-research/biomarkers/brain-behaviours-early-life/
Research
Brain Imaging in Babies (BIBS)
The Brain Imaging in Babies Study (BIBS) aims to improve understanding of how a baby's brain develops from before birth up until 3-4 years of age.
News
Chemical regulates light processing differently in the autistic and non-autistic eye, new study finds
King’s College London researchers have shown that the brain chemical GABA regulates activity in the retina of the eye in autistic and non-autistic individuals...
Patterns of brain connectivity differ between preterm and term babies
A new King’s College London scanning study of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns between term and preterm babies in the dynamic (moment-to-moment)...
A showcase of research in eating and weight disorders celebrates the launch of CREW
A packed one-day showcase of inspirational talks and activities marked the opening of the new Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW) at...
£14m provided for research into the brain development of children who were "in the womb" during the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers at King’s College London have been given £14m to conduct a six-year research programme into the effects COVID-19 on children.
A new generation of Inspiring Women at the IoPPN
28 new portraits of internationally recognised female professors at the Faculty have been added to IoPPN’s ‘Inspiring Women’ exhibition, celebrating the...
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...
£42m boost to mental health research announced by Office for Life Sciences
A new Mental Health Mission, announced today by the Office for Life Sciences, will provide £42.7m worth of funding for mental health research in the UK.
Professor Grainne McAlonan announced as Deputy Director of NIHR Maudsley BRC
Professor McAlonan appointed to role in May, and will act as interim NIHR Maudsley BRC Director from August 2023.
Professor Gráinne McAlonan delivers IoPPN Inaugural Lecture 'Translating Neuroscience - across species, across development and into clinic'
The second inaugural lecture of the 2022/23 IoPPN Inaugural Lecture Series, entitled 'Translating Neuroscience - across species, across development and into...
New study uses psilocybin to examine the serotonin system in autism
A new study, led by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London will explore the potential...
Events
NIHR Maudsley BRC | Research Showcase: Child Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Introducing the translational science of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions across the lifespan hosted by NIHR Maudsley BRC
Research Showcase in Eating and Weight Disorders
Join us to celebrate the launch of the Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders at King's College London, and discover research from the NIHR...
Please note: this event has passed.
Professor Gráinne McAlonan - Inaugural Lecture
Join us in celebrating Professor Gráinne McAlonan's inaugural lecture on 'Translating Neuroscience – across species, across development and into clinic''
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
Brain Imaging in Babies (BIBS)
The Brain Imaging in Babies Study (BIBS) aims to improve understanding of how a baby's brain develops from before birth up until 3-4 years of age.
News
Chemical regulates light processing differently in the autistic and non-autistic eye, new study finds
King’s College London researchers have shown that the brain chemical GABA regulates activity in the retina of the eye in autistic and non-autistic individuals...
Patterns of brain connectivity differ between preterm and term babies
A new King’s College London scanning study of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns between term and preterm babies in the dynamic (moment-to-moment)...
A showcase of research in eating and weight disorders celebrates the launch of CREW
A packed one-day showcase of inspirational talks and activities marked the opening of the new Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW) at...
£14m provided for research into the brain development of children who were "in the womb" during the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers at King’s College London have been given £14m to conduct a six-year research programme into the effects COVID-19 on children.
A new generation of Inspiring Women at the IoPPN
28 new portraits of internationally recognised female professors at the Faculty have been added to IoPPN’s ‘Inspiring Women’ exhibition, celebrating the...
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...
£42m boost to mental health research announced by Office for Life Sciences
A new Mental Health Mission, announced today by the Office for Life Sciences, will provide £42.7m worth of funding for mental health research in the UK.
Professor Grainne McAlonan announced as Deputy Director of NIHR Maudsley BRC
Professor McAlonan appointed to role in May, and will act as interim NIHR Maudsley BRC Director from August 2023.
Professor Gráinne McAlonan delivers IoPPN Inaugural Lecture 'Translating Neuroscience - across species, across development and into clinic'
The second inaugural lecture of the 2022/23 IoPPN Inaugural Lecture Series, entitled 'Translating Neuroscience - across species, across development and into...
New study uses psilocybin to examine the serotonin system in autism
A new study, led by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London will explore the potential...
Events
NIHR Maudsley BRC | Research Showcase: Child Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Introducing the translational science of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions across the lifespan hosted by NIHR Maudsley BRC
Research Showcase in Eating and Weight Disorders
Join us to celebrate the launch of the Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders at King's College London, and discover research from the NIHR...
Please note: this event has passed.
Professor Gráinne McAlonan - Inaugural Lecture
Join us in celebrating Professor Gráinne McAlonan's inaugural lecture on 'Translating Neuroscience – across species, across development and into clinic''
Please note: this event has passed.