New Head of Department for Psychology at the IoP
The Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King’s College London is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Richard Brown as the new Head of Department for Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry.
The Department represents one of the world’s largest groupings of clinical and health psychologists and as of October 1st Professor Brown will take over from Professor Elizabeth Kuipers, Head of Department since May 2006.
Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Principal King’s College London said: ‘The Institute of Psychiatry’s Department of Psychology has established a strong international reputation for research and teaching. I welcome the appointment of Professor Brown to this key role; his track record in research, teaching and capacity development will ensure the Department goes from strength to strength.’
Professor Brown gained his BA in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford in 1979. Following this, he trained as a clinical psychologist at the IoP in the Department of Psychology before completing his PhD in the Department of Neurology. In 1988 he went to work with the Medical Research Council at the Institute of Neurology at University College London.
Ten years later, he returned to the IoP and in 2006 was appointed Professor of Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience and Deputy Head of Department for Psychology. Since 2007 he has led on training and capacity development for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London. In 2010 he took on the role of Head of Graduate Studies (Research) overseeing the IoP’s postgraduate research training.
Professor Brown has 30 years of experience in a range of topics relating to neurodegenerative disease and dementia, particularly in the area of movement disorders. He works closely with colleagues elsewhere in the IoP, at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and at SLaM, where he is an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the Lishman Brain Injury Unity. His current research focuses on the psychological management of mental health problems in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The Dean of the IoP at King’s, Professor Shitij Kapur, added: ‘The Department of Psychology is one of the jewels in the IoP’s crown and we naturally looked around the world for someone who had the necessary scholarly and leadership skills. After a thorough international search I am delighted that we have chosen Professor Richard Brown, who will bring his scholarship and breadth of experience to lead the Department. He will be a most fitting successor to Professor Elizabeth Kuipers. The Department is poised to make a number of new recruitments and I am excited about working with Professor Brown to make them happen.’
Professor Brown says of the appointment: ‘I would like to express my thanks for the encouragement and generous support offered by friends and colleagues throughout the process of appointing the next Head of Department for Psychology. I very much look forward to working with you in taking the department into the next stage of what promises to be an exciting journey.’