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The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is one of the few leading teams in the world bringing together experts in brain development and antisocial behaviour. We offer prospective students supervision from internationally recognised academics with expertise in many areas of forensic and neurodevelopmental research. As one of Europe’s largest research groups focusing on the neuroscientific understanding of the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan, we believe it is essential to investigate the determinants of normal development to understand abnormal behaviour (or illness).
With staff globally-recognised as innovators of high-quality translational research. we maintain strong links with our clinical and forensic partners ensuring our fundamental research and teaching efforts can be transferred for clinical improvements with ease and speed. The quality of our research is reflected by our academic contributions to the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework. Ranked 2nd in the country for power, the IoPPNachieved a 100% 4* ranking for our research environment, indicating our impact was judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We currently hold approximately £20 million in research income from national (e.g. the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and National Institute of Health Research), international (e.g. European Commission) and charitable grant giving bodies (Autistica, Forces in Mind and The Simons Foundation).
Research methodologies employed within FANS included neuroimaging (in vivo brain imaging -MRI, fMRI, MRS, and PET), genomics, animal models, epidemiology, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and measures of cognitive ability and behaviour in healthy individuals and those with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders.
Key benefits
World leading experts
Our academic team members sit on National and International steering and advisory groups (including UK government task forces on ADHD, autism and offenders). With expertise from basic animal models through to the latest neuroimaging techniques, we are world leaders in brain imaging of infants, and in relating differences in brain structure and function to social and cognitive development. We also study the genetics, epidemiology, psychopathology, neurobiology and psychopharmacology of autistic spectrum disorders and ADHD across the lifespan, conduct disorder and callous unemotional behaviour in children, and offending and antisocial personality disorder in adulthood.
National and International Partnerships
Our work is funded by a generous donation of The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation along with large scale grants from leading agencies including the Medical Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), The Wellcome Trust, Autism Speaks, Autistica, The European Commission (the Innovative Medicines Initiative for EU AIMS, together with other funding for EU BRAINVIEW, EU TACTICS, and EU MATRICS), the Simons Foundation (USA) and Industry (GW Pharma).
Translational Research
Our unique collaboration between academics, researchers and clinicians provides you with an outstanding learning environment to become part of the next generation of world leaders in translational research.
Set within the world renowned Maudsley and Bethlem Royal hospitals, we join forces with leading experts in their field to provide high quality forensic and neurodevelopmental services via the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) – provider of the widest range of mental health services in the UK.
As part of the Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group (CAG), we rapidly translate cutting-edge research into clinical practice, improving patient outcomes, training and clinical practice to create world-leading improvements in healthcare.
The Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, launched in 2013 under the chairmanship of Professor Declan Murphy, carries out multidisciplinary ‘translational’ studies of normal development, and how abnormalities in that process lead to high cost neurodevelopmental disorders. Our studies link the ‘basic’ sciences (e.g. in cellular mechanisms and circuits studied using stem cell and animal models) to clinical sciences. Partnered with the Sackler Institute, our students have an unrivalled opportunity to take their research directly into a clinical setting. Sackler PhD students are provided with a bursary to aid their bench fees, essential project running costs and travel to meetings. The program aims to ‘leverage up’ the influence of the Sackler Institute while training a cohort of future scientific leaders, providing a ‘living legacy’ for the Sackler family’s donation.
Take a look at our recent publications
The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) offers prospective students supervision from internationally recognised academics with expertise in many areas of forensic and neurodevelopmental research.
Current Research Interests
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Research in the Forensic Environment
Conduct Disorder
Infant Brain Development
UK Tuition Fees 2022/23
Full time tuition fees: £7,050 per year
Part time tuition fees: £3,525 per year
International Tuition Fees 2022/23
Full time tuition fees: £26,640 per year
Part time tuition fees: £13,320 per year
UK Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year
Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year
International Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full time tuition fees: £28,260 per year
Part time tuition fees: £14,130 per year
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, clinical and teaching facilities for the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences and the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation.
Working closely with their supervisors, our Graduate research students enjoy regular meetings to discuss their progress. We also foster student collaboration by encouraging networking with other members of staff within their research group along with participation in departmental research presentations and Institute seminars. At the start of their studies new graduate students are given a full induction and each full-time graduate research student is allocated their own workspace and computer. Facilities for part-time students can be arranged according to their needs. Students and supervisors are invited to participate in the thriving PhD student forum - a bi-monthly gathering for all all students and supervisors to discuss research methods and present on-going projects.
Fostering our PhD Researchers
We encourage our students to publish their research results. In addition to supporting PhD Theses incorporating publications we also champion student poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences including: International Society of Autism Research Meeting, Organisation of Human Brain Mapping, and Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Conference.
Training courses run by the department, the Institute or through the Graduate School can be utilised as required to provide training in a wide variety of topics, from transferable skills to academic areas directly relevant to the student's thesis.
Professor Declan Murphy
For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact
Education Support Team: ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk
Admissions Tutor: Dr Vaheshta Sethna- vaheshta.sethna@kcl.ac.uk
Business Manager: Ms Harriet Meteyard- harriet.meteyard@kcl.ac.uk
UK Tuition Fees 2022/23
Full time tuition fees: £7,050 per year
Part time tuition fees: £3,525 per year
International Tuition Fees 2022/23
Full time tuition fees: £26,640 per year
Part time tuition fees: £13,320 per year
UK Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year
Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year
International Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full time tuition fees: £28,260 per year
Part time tuition fees: £14,130 per year
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, clinical and teaching facilities for the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences and the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation.
Working closely with their supervisors, our Graduate research students enjoy regular meetings to discuss their progress. We also foster student collaboration by encouraging networking with other members of staff within their research group along with participation in departmental research presentations and Institute seminars. At the start of their studies new graduate students are given a full induction and each full-time graduate research student is allocated their own workspace and computer. Facilities for part-time students can be arranged according to their needs. Students and supervisors are invited to participate in the thriving PhD student forum - a bi-monthly gathering for all all students and supervisors to discuss research methods and present on-going projects.
Fostering our PhD Researchers
We encourage our students to publish their research results. In addition to supporting PhD Theses incorporating publications we also champion student poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences including: International Society of Autism Research Meeting, Organisation of Human Brain Mapping, and Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Conference.
Training courses run by the department, the Institute or through the Graduate School can be utilised as required to provide training in a wide variety of topics, from transferable skills to academic areas directly relevant to the student's thesis.
Professor Declan Murphy
For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact
Education Support Team: ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk
Admissions Tutor: Dr Vaheshta Sethna- vaheshta.sethna@kcl.ac.uk
Business Manager: Ms Harriet Meteyard- harriet.meteyard@kcl.ac.uk
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