
Professor Nicola Fear
Professor of Epidemiology
Research interests
- Psychology
- Mental Health
Contact details
Biography
Professor Fear joined the Academic Department of Military Mental Health (ADMMH) at King's College London in 2004. Nicola has also worked as an epidemiologist for the Leukaemia Research Fund (University of Leeds) and the UK Ministry of Defence. Since 2011, Professor Fear has been Director of the King’s Centre of Military Health Research (KCMHR) alongside Professor Sir Simon Wessely. In 2014, King’s College London awarded Nicola a Chair in Epidemiology. Professor Fear is one of the Principal Investigators on the KCMHR military cohort study and leads several studies looking at the impact of military service on families. Nicola obtained a BSc(Hons) in Pharmacology from King’s College London before training as an epidemiologist the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London) and the University of Oxford.
Research Interests
- Military
- Veterans
- Armed Forces community
- Mental health
- Families including children
- Emergency responders
Research Groups
- King’s Centre for Military Health Research
- Academic Department of Military Mental Health
- Conflict Health Research Group
Teaching
- BSc in Psychology (3rd year module, War in the Mind)
- MSc in War and Psychiatry
Expertise & Public Engagement
- Trustee of Help for Heroes
- Specialist adviser to NHS Digital on the release of patient data
- Previous participant of SPI-B during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
Research

Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR)
The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London, is the leading civilian UK centre of excellence for military health research.

DrinksRation
DrinksRation is a smartphone app designed to reduce alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces using digital technology and behavioural change theory.
Project status: Ongoing
Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study
A long-term study investigating the health and wellbeing of UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Project status: Ongoing

The Porton Down Veterans Cohort Study
A study exploring long-term health of former servicemen who were exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of the ‘human volunteer programme’ at Porton Down.
Project status: Ongoing

VeteransCHECK
A study investigating the current experiences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of ex-serving personnel.
Project status: Ongoing

Academic Department of Military Mental Health
The Academic Department of Military Mental Health, undertakes military mental health research and development for the UK Armed Forces.
News
New report explores the facilitators and barriers to servicewomen successfully transitioning out of the Armed Forces
A new report from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has explored the experiences of servicewomen of the British...

Sustaining a serious physical injury in combat raises risk of illegal drug use in Armed Forces personnel, but is it due to their injury? Or is something else involved?
New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that UK Armed Forces personnel who sustain serious...

Celebrating King's colleagues recognised in 2025 New Year Honours List
Congratulations to everyone who received honours from King Charles III this year

New Year Honours for IoPPN Researchers
Congratulations to Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia and Professor Keyoumars Ashkan who were recognised in the 2025...

RAND Europe and King's College London to run military research centre
Leading UK military research organisations have joined together to run a military research hub, curating a free and accessible evidence base of research into...

More than 1 in 10 Armed Forces personnel have experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse
New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that Armed Forces personnel are significantly more...

KCMHR's research continues King's College London's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
Following Armed Forces Day (25 June 2022), the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) helps to reaffirm King’s College London’s commitment to the...

Armed Forces Personnel who are injured in combat at greater risk of poor mental health
Members of the British Armed Forces who were physically injured while fighting in Afghanistan are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to...

Veterans Mental Health Conference 2022
The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCHMR), the leading civilian centre of excellence for military health research in the UK, presented the 2022...

Hearing problems associated with adverse mental health outcomes in the UK Armed Forces
Members of the UK Armed Forces who experience hearing problems were more likely to report adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse.

Research

Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR)
The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London, is the leading civilian UK centre of excellence for military health research.

DrinksRation
DrinksRation is a smartphone app designed to reduce alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces using digital technology and behavioural change theory.
Project status: Ongoing
Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study
A long-term study investigating the health and wellbeing of UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Project status: Ongoing

The Porton Down Veterans Cohort Study
A study exploring long-term health of former servicemen who were exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of the ‘human volunteer programme’ at Porton Down.
Project status: Ongoing

VeteransCHECK
A study investigating the current experiences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of ex-serving personnel.
Project status: Ongoing

Academic Department of Military Mental Health
The Academic Department of Military Mental Health, undertakes military mental health research and development for the UK Armed Forces.
News
New report explores the facilitators and barriers to servicewomen successfully transitioning out of the Armed Forces
A new report from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has explored the experiences of servicewomen of the British...

Sustaining a serious physical injury in combat raises risk of illegal drug use in Armed Forces personnel, but is it due to their injury? Or is something else involved?
New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that UK Armed Forces personnel who sustain serious...

Celebrating King's colleagues recognised in 2025 New Year Honours List
Congratulations to everyone who received honours from King Charles III this year

New Year Honours for IoPPN Researchers
Congratulations to Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia and Professor Keyoumars Ashkan who were recognised in the 2025...

RAND Europe and King's College London to run military research centre
Leading UK military research organisations have joined together to run a military research hub, curating a free and accessible evidence base of research into...

More than 1 in 10 Armed Forces personnel have experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse
New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that Armed Forces personnel are significantly more...

KCMHR's research continues King's College London's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
Following Armed Forces Day (25 June 2022), the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) helps to reaffirm King’s College London’s commitment to the...

Armed Forces Personnel who are injured in combat at greater risk of poor mental health
Members of the British Armed Forces who were physically injured while fighting in Afghanistan are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to...

Veterans Mental Health Conference 2022
The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCHMR), the leading civilian centre of excellence for military health research in the UK, presented the 2022...

Hearing problems associated with adverse mental health outcomes in the UK Armed Forces
Members of the UK Armed Forces who experience hearing problems were more likely to report adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse.
