Professor Ben Carter
Professor of Medical Statistics
Research interests
- Biomedical and life sciences
- Neuroscience
Biography
I joined King’s College London in October 2016. Previously, I was based in Cardiff University where I led the Masters in Public Health programme and contributed to research for the Centre for Trials research. Prior to this role, I was a research fellow at the Cancer Research Clinical Trials Unit in Birmingham University. I hold a BSc in Statistics from Reading University, MSc in Medical Statistics from Southampton University (2001) and PhD from Reading University (2005). Throughout the early part of my career, I worked in the pharmaceutical Industry with GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Quintiles. Currently, I am the affiliated lead for the King's Clinical Trials Unit’s Mental Health Statistics Group at King's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. I am also the methodological lead and Senior Statistician to 12 studies with collaborators based at King's, King’s College Hospital, Cardiff University, and Glasgow University.
Research Interests:
- I lead a group who explore the impact of technology and devices in children.
- I have a long standing interest in the methodology that underpin cluster randomised controlled trials.
- Methods that underpin synthesis for systematic reviews of non-randomised controlled studies
Teaching:
I lead the “Statistics, Epidemiology and research methods” module, which is worth 30 credit for the MSc in Clinical Neuroscience. I also supervise MSc and undergraduate projects.
Expertise and Public Engagement:
- Regular contributor to expert opinion articles in various national and international newspapers
- Public speaker on the impact of technology on the mental and physical health of children and young adults
- Cochrane Dermatology Group Statistics Editor
Research
![People walking](/newimages/ioppn/mhaps/web-thumbnails-heros/people-walking.x3e1f5a31.jpg?w=780&h=461&crop=780,440,0,11&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Mental Health & Neuroscience Clinical Trial Statistics Group
The Mental Health & Neuroscience Clinical Trial Statistics Group leads on the design, conduct and reporting of clinical trials in mental health.
![780x450 depression-lonely-web](/newimages/alumni/main-article-780x450/780x450-depression-lonely-web.x176e2f5f.jpg?crop=780,440,0,5&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
DISCOVER Research Group
Discover Research Group
![Secondary school](/newimages/ioppn/feature/secondary-school.xe3965478.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST)
A clinical trial designed to understand whether the DISCOVER workshop programme can positively impact the mental health of 16-18-year-old sixth-form students.
Project status: Ongoing
![trials-methodology-research-group-cropped-1903x558](/newimages/ioppn/research/trials-methodology-research-group-cropped-1903x558.x77fafdf8.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Trials Methodology Research Group
The Trials Methodology Research Group is focussed on improving the design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials for the benefit of participants, researchers, and others who use the evidence to make decisions about healthcare.
![est-1-in-4-children-young-people-have-problematic-smartphone-usage-hero](/newimages/ioppn/hero/est-1-in-4-children-young-people-have-problematic-smartphone-usage-hero.x36e57dcb.png?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,588,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Social media, Smartphone Use and Self-Harm in Young People (3S-YP) study
The rise in self-harm has been linked to increasing use of social media and internet technology among young people.
Project status: Ongoing
![pexels-anna-shvets-4226219-min](/newimages/researchproject/thumb-2021/pexels-anna-shvets-4226219-min.x9db02b7c.jpg?w=915&h=742&crop=780,440,67,152&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
ATTENS Project
The ATTENS Project explores the potential of eTNS in improving symptoms, cognitive performance and the functioning of the brain in children with ADHD.
Project status: Ongoing
![Pink heart banner](/newimages/research/thumb/pink-heart-banner.x612350ca.jpg?w=804&h=440&crop=780,440,12,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Learning from Lives and Deaths - people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR)
The latest annual LeDeR report in collaboration with our academic partners on behalf of NHS England.
News
Self-harm and digital technology overuse in young people with lived mental health experience
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in partnership with YoungMinds – the UK’s leading...
![Phone call](/newimages/sspp/Security/ws/feature-800-430/phone-call.x9e4c2413.jpg?w=782&h=440&crop=780,440,1,0&f=webp)
Day workshop in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces depression in 16-18 year olds
The Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial found a day-long CBT course is an effective means of improving young people's mental health.
![BESST-iStock-641755290](/newimages/ioppn/research/besst-istock-641755290.xb88df894.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,61&f=webp)
£3.2m funding to test the ADVANCE-D Programme for men with substance use problems serving community sentences for partner abuse
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has awarded £3.2 million funding to principal investigator, Professor Gail Gilchrist (King’s College London)...
![Violence and abuse](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/violence-and-abuse.x58824fe3.jpg?w=782&h=440&crop=780,440,1,0&f=webp)
£1.45million awarded for EDEN Project, a trial exploring ketamine for depression with anorexia nervosa
King’s researchers have been awarded the funds the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme to run a randomised controlled feasibility trial of oral ketamine...
![Someone talking to a professional](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/eden-project-news-story-istock-1471478144.x31df644b.jpg?f=webp)
New framework aims to unlock the potential for social media research into young people's mental health
Research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London proposes a new framework to empower young people in...
![Social media apps on phone - by adem ay - 780x440](/newimages/sspp/ecs/blogs/social-media-apps-on-phone-by-adem-ay-780x440.xc3a62294.jpg?f=webp)
2021 LeDeR report into the avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities
The 2021 LeDeR report, which seeks to investigate and learn from the avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability in England, was published today.
![Arms and hands of someone looking over a lake](/newimages/sspp/ahscwru/news/2022/jan/s12-report-780.x69da832a.jpg?f=webp)
Landmark trial of NHS staff reveals promising solution to improve mental health
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that the mental health and wellbeing of...
![Phone](/newimages/careers/thumbnails/Phone.x7177bfc1.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Vax now or vax later – what do parents think of mandatory vaccination?
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has assessed parental preference for a mandatory...
![vaccines hero](/newimages/sspp/policy-institute/hero/vaccines-hero.x37b77d73.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&f=webp)
Dr Brendon Stubbs receives NIHR Fellowship
Dr Stubbs was awarded the five year fellowship for research in persistent pain and serious mental illness.
![Brendon Stubbs 780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/brendon-stubbs-780x440.x9e62cab5.png?f=webp)
King's to lead new collaboration to reduce health inequalities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people
King’s College London, working with the NHS England and NHS Improvement, will lead a collaboration of several academic, Trust and voluntary sector partners...
![books and lights](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/main/books-and-lights-780-440.x8e4133a9.jpg?f=webp)
Research
![People walking](/newimages/ioppn/mhaps/web-thumbnails-heros/people-walking.x3e1f5a31.jpg?w=780&h=461&crop=780,440,0,11&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Mental Health & Neuroscience Clinical Trial Statistics Group
The Mental Health & Neuroscience Clinical Trial Statistics Group leads on the design, conduct and reporting of clinical trials in mental health.
![780x450 depression-lonely-web](/newimages/alumni/main-article-780x450/780x450-depression-lonely-web.x176e2f5f.jpg?crop=780,440,0,5&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
DISCOVER Research Group
Discover Research Group
![Secondary school](/newimages/ioppn/feature/secondary-school.xe3965478.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST)
A clinical trial designed to understand whether the DISCOVER workshop programme can positively impact the mental health of 16-18-year-old sixth-form students.
Project status: Ongoing
![trials-methodology-research-group-cropped-1903x558](/newimages/ioppn/research/trials-methodology-research-group-cropped-1903x558.x77fafdf8.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Trials Methodology Research Group
The Trials Methodology Research Group is focussed on improving the design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials for the benefit of participants, researchers, and others who use the evidence to make decisions about healthcare.
![est-1-in-4-children-young-people-have-problematic-smartphone-usage-hero](/newimages/ioppn/hero/est-1-in-4-children-young-people-have-problematic-smartphone-usage-hero.x36e57dcb.png?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,588,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Social media, Smartphone Use and Self-Harm in Young People (3S-YP) study
The rise in self-harm has been linked to increasing use of social media and internet technology among young people.
Project status: Ongoing
![pexels-anna-shvets-4226219-min](/newimages/researchproject/thumb-2021/pexels-anna-shvets-4226219-min.x9db02b7c.jpg?w=915&h=742&crop=780,440,67,152&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
ATTENS Project
The ATTENS Project explores the potential of eTNS in improving symptoms, cognitive performance and the functioning of the brain in children with ADHD.
Project status: Ongoing
![Pink heart banner](/newimages/research/thumb/pink-heart-banner.x612350ca.jpg?w=804&h=440&crop=780,440,12,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Learning from Lives and Deaths - people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR)
The latest annual LeDeR report in collaboration with our academic partners on behalf of NHS England.
News
Self-harm and digital technology overuse in young people with lived mental health experience
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in partnership with YoungMinds – the UK’s leading...
![Phone call](/newimages/sspp/Security/ws/feature-800-430/phone-call.x9e4c2413.jpg?w=782&h=440&crop=780,440,1,0&f=webp)
Day workshop in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces depression in 16-18 year olds
The Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial found a day-long CBT course is an effective means of improving young people's mental health.
![BESST-iStock-641755290](/newimages/ioppn/research/besst-istock-641755290.xb88df894.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,61&f=webp)
£3.2m funding to test the ADVANCE-D Programme for men with substance use problems serving community sentences for partner abuse
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has awarded £3.2 million funding to principal investigator, Professor Gail Gilchrist (King’s College London)...
![Violence and abuse](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/violence-and-abuse.x58824fe3.jpg?w=782&h=440&crop=780,440,1,0&f=webp)
£1.45million awarded for EDEN Project, a trial exploring ketamine for depression with anorexia nervosa
King’s researchers have been awarded the funds the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme to run a randomised controlled feasibility trial of oral ketamine...
![Someone talking to a professional](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/eden-project-news-story-istock-1471478144.x31df644b.jpg?f=webp)
New framework aims to unlock the potential for social media research into young people's mental health
Research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London proposes a new framework to empower young people in...
![Social media apps on phone - by adem ay - 780x440](/newimages/sspp/ecs/blogs/social-media-apps-on-phone-by-adem-ay-780x440.xc3a62294.jpg?f=webp)
2021 LeDeR report into the avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities
The 2021 LeDeR report, which seeks to investigate and learn from the avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability in England, was published today.
![Arms and hands of someone looking over a lake](/newimages/sspp/ahscwru/news/2022/jan/s12-report-780.x69da832a.jpg?f=webp)
Landmark trial of NHS staff reveals promising solution to improve mental health
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that the mental health and wellbeing of...
![Phone](/newimages/careers/thumbnails/Phone.x7177bfc1.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Vax now or vax later – what do parents think of mandatory vaccination?
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has assessed parental preference for a mandatory...
![vaccines hero](/newimages/sspp/policy-institute/hero/vaccines-hero.x37b77d73.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&f=webp)
Dr Brendon Stubbs receives NIHR Fellowship
Dr Stubbs was awarded the five year fellowship for research in persistent pain and serious mental illness.
![Brendon Stubbs 780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/brendon-stubbs-780x440.x9e62cab5.png?f=webp)
King's to lead new collaboration to reduce health inequalities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people
King’s College London, working with the NHS England and NHS Improvement, will lead a collaboration of several academic, Trust and voluntary sector partners...
![books and lights](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/main/books-and-lights-780-440.x8e4133a9.jpg?f=webp)