Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen (MPhil Clinical Psychology) is one of the world's leading experts on autism and neurodiversity, whose research has transformed scientific understanding of the disability and influence clinical practice and public policy.

After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Oxford, and a PhD at University College London, Simon undertook postgraduate training in clinical psychology at King’s College London. His time at King’s provided the foundation for a research career spanning four decades and dedicated to understanding human cognition and development.

He has written three popular science books that have shaped public understanding and perception of autism - The Essential Difference, Zero Degrees of Empathy and The Pattern Seekers - as well as two academic books - Mindblindness and Prenatal Testosterone in Mind. He has also authored digital education resources for autistic people and has written books aimed at parents and teachers.

Simon has published over 780 peer reviewed scientific articles. Among his scientific discoveries are ‘mindblindness’ in autism, that autism can be diagnosed at 18 months old, the role of the amygdala in autism, genetic links between systemising and autism, and the casual role of prenatal sex steroids in autism.

Simon’s work has had significant clinical and societal impact. He founded the UK’s first diagnostic clinic for autistic adults, helping improve recognition and access to support. Beyond academia, he has been a prominent advocate for the rights and inclusion of autistic people. He gave a keynote address to the United Nations on Autism Awareness Day 2017 on the topic of ‘Autism and Human Rights’. He also served as Founding Trustee of the charity Autism Action, which uses evidence-based campaigning to improve the world for autistic people, and is scientific advisor to the company Auticon, which only employs autistic people.

Simon was a New Blood Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at King’s and is now Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and is Director of the Autism Research Centre, which he founded. Under his leadership, the Centre has become a global hub for interdisciplinary research spanning cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, paediatrics, neonatology, genetics, clinical psychology and psychiatry, and molecular biology, with a focus on deepening our understanding of autism and improving the health and wellbeing of autistic people and their families.

Simon’s contributions have been widely recognised through prestigious honours and awards. He was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to autistic people. In 2023, he received the Medical Research Council Millennium Medal, the organisation’s highest honour. In 2026, he was awarded the Grawemeyer Award in Psychology, the highest prize in the field of psychology.

Across his career, Simon has combined scientific innovation with a commitment to real-world impact. Today, he is recognised globally as a pioneer in autism research, shaping science, policy and public understanding.