Skip to main content
Robin Murray

Professor Sir Robin Murray

Professor of Psychiatric Research

Research interests

  • Mental Health
  • Psychiatry

Contact details

Biography

Robin Murray is Professor of Psychiatric Research has spent most of his working life at the institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience apart from one year at NIMH in the USA. His particular interest is in psychosis. He was one of the first to suggest that schizophrenia was in part a neurodevelopmental disorder, and he and his colleagues have contributed to the understanding that environmental factors such as obstetric events, drug abuse and social adversity dysregulate striatal dopamine and thus increase the risk of psychosis. He also cares for people with psychosis at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. He has written over 800 articles, not all of them boring! He is the most frequently cited psychosis researcher outside the USA, has supervised 83 PhDs and 13 MD Theses, and 45 of his students have become full professors. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2010 and received a knighthood in 2011.

Clinical Academic Group 

Research Group 

    Research

    neuron-communication-receptor-STRATA-Schizophrenia-hero
    STRATA - Schizophrenia: Treatment Resistance and Therapeutic Advances

    People with schizophrenia suffer from a range of symptoms including hallucinations (such as hearing voices), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder (thoughts not flowing in a logical way).

    main-mental-health
    AESOP-10

    This project is studying the causes of ethnic differences in the cause and outcome of psychosis.

    Project status: Ongoing

    The University College Hospital London (UCHL) Cohort Study

    This study was the first systematic investigation of brain & behavioural development of people born very preterm (<33 weeks’ gestation) from birth to adulthood.

    Project status: Completed

    News

    First specialist NHS clinic provides effective help for young adults with psychosis to decrease or stop their cannabis use

    The NHS Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis (CCP) offers a feasible and effective treatment strategy to help young adult cannabis users to significantly cut down...

    smoking cannabis

    IoPPN host delegation from Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Health

    Visit underlines partnership and collaboration in the use of electronic health records and digital therapies, and for a new Perinatal Mental Health Centre in...

    IoPPN MoU Indonesia 780x440

    Cannabis intoxication triggers cognitive mechanism of addiction

    Researchers suggest that the main component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could underpin the cognitive mechanisms behind cannabis use...

    cannabis plant 780x440

    'When the drugs don't work: the challenge of treatment resistant psychosis'

    Professor James MacCabe delivered the ninth inaugural lecture of the 2022/23 IoPPN Inaugural Lecture Series, entitled 'When the drugs don’t work: the...

    James MacCabe Inaugural

    Professor Sir Robin Murray receives prestigious WPA Jean Delay prize

    Triannual prize honours distinguished colleagues who have made a noteworthy contribution to the biological, psychological or social aspects of psychiatry, or...

    Sir Robin Murray

    Full house at 10th edition of IoPPN Research Festival

    The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) celebrated its 10th Research Festival in a packed Wolfson Lecture Theatre. This year's...

    RF graphic

    New funding to continue the comprehensive research programme on psychoses in diverse settings in the Global South

    Over £3 million funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) has been awarded to Professor Craig Morgan at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

    globes

    Cannabis not made safer by increasing its CBD content

    New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found no evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces...

    cannabis

    Withdrawing from antipsychotics: an analysis

    Withdrawing from antipsychotic medication can take months or even years to complete, as patients need to reduce their doses very gradually, according to...

    Picture of a pile of colourful pills

    Professor Sir Robin Murray awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from Schizophrenia International Research Society

    Professor Sir Robin Murray has been named as the recipient of the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020....

    Professor Sir Robin Murray

    Events

    20Nov

    Professor Paolo Fusar-Poli - Inaugural lecture

    Join us in celebrating Professor Paolo Fusar-Poli's inaugural lecture on 'The Future of Mental Health Starts with Prevention.'

    Please note: this event has passed.

    22Jul

    Open Research Summer School

    Join us at the Open Research Summer School for a deep dive into the world of research.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    30Apr

    61st Maudsley Debate

    Motion: High Time: This house believes that cannabis should be legalised in the UK within 5 years.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    27May

    9th Mediterranean Maudsley Forum

    The 9th Mediterranean Maudsley Forum will provide an update on social, psychological and biological aspects of psychiatric disorders, reviewing both advances...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    29Nov

    50 years of excellence in research (and some rubbish)

    Join Professor Sir Robin Murray's talk on 50 years of excellence in research (and some rubbish): reflections on my time at the Maudsley.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    04Jul

    Professor James MacCabe - Inaugural Lecture

    Join us in celebrating Professor James MacCabe's inaugural lecture on 'When the drugs don't work: the challenge of treatment resistant psychosis'

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17May

    IoPPN Research Festival 2023 - 10th Edition - Looking back to look forward

    Please join us on 17 May 2023 to celebrate the innovative and exciting research taking place at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    07Dec

    Towards the aetiological diagnosis and treatment of psychosis

    A lecture with Professor Sir Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatric Research, IoPPN and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Maudsley Debates - 61st to 70th

    The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

    Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558

    Maudsley Debates - 41st to 50th

    The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

    Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558

    Maudsley Debates - 21st to 30th

    The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

    Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558

      Research

      neuron-communication-receptor-STRATA-Schizophrenia-hero
      STRATA - Schizophrenia: Treatment Resistance and Therapeutic Advances

      People with schizophrenia suffer from a range of symptoms including hallucinations (such as hearing voices), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder (thoughts not flowing in a logical way).

      main-mental-health
      AESOP-10

      This project is studying the causes of ethnic differences in the cause and outcome of psychosis.

      Project status: Ongoing

      The University College Hospital London (UCHL) Cohort Study

      This study was the first systematic investigation of brain & behavioural development of people born very preterm (<33 weeks’ gestation) from birth to adulthood.

      Project status: Completed

      News

      First specialist NHS clinic provides effective help for young adults with psychosis to decrease or stop their cannabis use

      The NHS Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis (CCP) offers a feasible and effective treatment strategy to help young adult cannabis users to significantly cut down...

      smoking cannabis

      IoPPN host delegation from Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Health

      Visit underlines partnership and collaboration in the use of electronic health records and digital therapies, and for a new Perinatal Mental Health Centre in...

      IoPPN MoU Indonesia 780x440

      Cannabis intoxication triggers cognitive mechanism of addiction

      Researchers suggest that the main component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could underpin the cognitive mechanisms behind cannabis use...

      cannabis plant 780x440

      'When the drugs don't work: the challenge of treatment resistant psychosis'

      Professor James MacCabe delivered the ninth inaugural lecture of the 2022/23 IoPPN Inaugural Lecture Series, entitled 'When the drugs don’t work: the...

      James MacCabe Inaugural

      Professor Sir Robin Murray receives prestigious WPA Jean Delay prize

      Triannual prize honours distinguished colleagues who have made a noteworthy contribution to the biological, psychological or social aspects of psychiatry, or...

      Sir Robin Murray

      Full house at 10th edition of IoPPN Research Festival

      The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) celebrated its 10th Research Festival in a packed Wolfson Lecture Theatre. This year's...

      RF graphic

      New funding to continue the comprehensive research programme on psychoses in diverse settings in the Global South

      Over £3 million funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) has been awarded to Professor Craig Morgan at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

      globes

      Cannabis not made safer by increasing its CBD content

      New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found no evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces...

      cannabis

      Withdrawing from antipsychotics: an analysis

      Withdrawing from antipsychotic medication can take months or even years to complete, as patients need to reduce their doses very gradually, according to...

      Picture of a pile of colourful pills

      Professor Sir Robin Murray awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from Schizophrenia International Research Society

      Professor Sir Robin Murray has been named as the recipient of the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020....

      Professor Sir Robin Murray

      Events

      20Nov

      Professor Paolo Fusar-Poli - Inaugural lecture

      Join us in celebrating Professor Paolo Fusar-Poli's inaugural lecture on 'The Future of Mental Health Starts with Prevention.'

      Please note: this event has passed.

      22Jul

      Open Research Summer School

      Join us at the Open Research Summer School for a deep dive into the world of research.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      30Apr

      61st Maudsley Debate

      Motion: High Time: This house believes that cannabis should be legalised in the UK within 5 years.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      27May

      9th Mediterranean Maudsley Forum

      The 9th Mediterranean Maudsley Forum will provide an update on social, psychological and biological aspects of psychiatric disorders, reviewing both advances...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      29Nov

      50 years of excellence in research (and some rubbish)

      Join Professor Sir Robin Murray's talk on 50 years of excellence in research (and some rubbish): reflections on my time at the Maudsley.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      04Jul

      Professor James MacCabe - Inaugural Lecture

      Join us in celebrating Professor James MacCabe's inaugural lecture on 'When the drugs don't work: the challenge of treatment resistant psychosis'

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17May

      IoPPN Research Festival 2023 - 10th Edition - Looking back to look forward

      Please join us on 17 May 2023 to celebrate the innovative and exciting research taking place at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      07Dec

      Towards the aetiological diagnosis and treatment of psychosis

      A lecture with Professor Sir Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatric Research, IoPPN and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Maudsley Debates - 61st to 70th

      The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

      Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558

      Maudsley Debates - 41st to 50th

      The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

      Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558

      Maudsley Debates - 21st to 30th

      The Maudsley Debates take place three times a year at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Topics generally focus on issues that...

      Maudsley Debates 2 1903x558