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Gail Gilchrist

Professor Gail Gilchrist

Professor in Addictions Healthcare Research

Research interests

  • Mental Health

Biography

Professor Gail Gilchrist’s research focuses on understanding the relationship between substance use and mental health, intimate partner abuse and blood borne viruses; and developing and testing interventions to address these co-occurring issues. Gail received her PhD in 2004 from the University of Glasgow.

Prior to joining King's in 2013, Gail has held research posts in the UK (Argyll and Clyde Drug Action Team, Greater Glasgow NHS Board, University of Greenwich), Australia (University of Melbourne) and Spain (Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona). She has published around 100 manuscripts, editorials and reports.

Gail is currently a co-editor of Advances in Dual Diagnosis journal and a member of the International Society for Addiction Journal Editors.

Research interests 

  • Intimate partner abuse
  • Comorbidity
  • People who inject drugs
  • Gender
  • Sexual and drug risk behaviors
  • Interventions

    Research

    drug bottles hero
    Drugs Research Group

    Substance misuse research within the Addictions Department is led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden. 

    King's flag London
    ADVANCE

    Advancing theory and treatment approaches for males in substance misuse treatment who perpetrate intimate partner violence.

    2-men-in-street-4
    Men, Substance Use and Relationships: A Bilateral Learning Alliance (England and Brazil)

    This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and led by Dr Gail Gilchrist at the National Centre for Addictions, King's College London.

    Project status: Completed

    Projects
    Preventing blood borne virus infection in people who inject drugs (project PROTECT)

    In the UK, around 33%-56% of people who inject drugs (PWID) have hepatitis C. Rates of HIV (0-1%) and hepatitis B (6-18%) are much lower.

    Project status: Ongoing

    advance
    ADVANCE project outputs

    A 60-month programme with 5 workstreams to describe the role of substance use in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by men in substance use treatment.

    Project status: Ongoing

    News

    Better care integration needed for mothers in substance use services

    New research has used electronic health records to identify how to better integrate policy and practice for parents involved in public family law proceedings...

    mother and child hands

    Professor Gail Gilchrist delivers her inaugural lecture at IoPPN

    On Thursday 16 May 2024, Professor Gilchrist delivered her inaugural lecture as Professor in Addictions Healthcare Research at King’s IoPPN.

    Image of Professor Matthew Hotopf, Professor Gail Gilchrist and Professor Sir John Strang

    £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

    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...

    Inspiring Women cover photo

    Rates of Intimate Partner Abuse and Substance Misuse reduced with combined care

    New research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in collaboration with researchers from the...

    Violence and abuse

    Events

    16MayNew understanding and approaches to addressing intimate partner violence in the context of substance use (1)

    Professor Gail Gilchrist - Inaugural Lecture

    Join us in celebrating Professor Gail Gilchrist's inaugural lecture on 'New understanding and approaches to addressing intimate partner violence in the...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    IoPPN Inaugural Lectures: 2024

    Inaugural lectures are given by newly arrived or promoted professors, who use the opportunity to introduce themselves, to present an overview of their own...

    Neurons in the sky

      Research

      drug bottles hero
      Drugs Research Group

      Substance misuse research within the Addictions Department is led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden. 

      King's flag London
      ADVANCE

      Advancing theory and treatment approaches for males in substance misuse treatment who perpetrate intimate partner violence.

      2-men-in-street-4
      Men, Substance Use and Relationships: A Bilateral Learning Alliance (England and Brazil)

      This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and led by Dr Gail Gilchrist at the National Centre for Addictions, King's College London.

      Project status: Completed

      Projects
      Preventing blood borne virus infection in people who inject drugs (project PROTECT)

      In the UK, around 33%-56% of people who inject drugs (PWID) have hepatitis C. Rates of HIV (0-1%) and hepatitis B (6-18%) are much lower.

      Project status: Ongoing

      advance
      ADVANCE project outputs

      A 60-month programme with 5 workstreams to describe the role of substance use in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by men in substance use treatment.

      Project status: Ongoing

      News

      Better care integration needed for mothers in substance use services

      New research has used electronic health records to identify how to better integrate policy and practice for parents involved in public family law proceedings...

      mother and child hands

      Professor Gail Gilchrist delivers her inaugural lecture at IoPPN

      On Thursday 16 May 2024, Professor Gilchrist delivered her inaugural lecture as Professor in Addictions Healthcare Research at King’s IoPPN.

      Image of Professor Matthew Hotopf, Professor Gail Gilchrist and Professor Sir John Strang

      £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

      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...

      Inspiring Women cover photo

      Rates of Intimate Partner Abuse and Substance Misuse reduced with combined care

      New research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in collaboration with researchers from the...

      Violence and abuse

      Events

      16MayNew understanding and approaches to addressing intimate partner violence in the context of substance use (1)

      Professor Gail Gilchrist - Inaugural Lecture

      Join us in celebrating Professor Gail Gilchrist's inaugural lecture on 'New understanding and approaches to addressing intimate partner violence in the...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      IoPPN Inaugural Lectures: 2024

      Inaugural lectures are given by newly arrived or promoted professors, who use the opportunity to introduce themselves, to present an overview of their own...

      Neurons in the sky