Lahiru Handunnetthi, Louise Johns, Amedeo Minichino and Maxime Taquet have all been awarded the title of Associate Professor by the Medical Sciences Division, for making a significant and sustained contribution to the university’s goals through research, teaching and citizenship.
Lahiru Handunnetthi's research focuses on how inflammation and infections contribute to the development of psychiatric and neurological disease. He said:
I am honoured to be awarded the title of Associate Professor. I am very grateful to my fantastic team, and to the inspiring mentorship of Belinda Lennox, Paul Harrison, and Julian Knight. I look forward to continuing collaborations with excellent colleagues in the department to advance our understanding of how the immune system affects the brain in health and disease."
Louise Johns is a Consultant Academic Clinical Psychologist. Her research looks at the development of psychotic symptoms in young people, cognitive behavioural therapies for psychosis, and early intervention and prevention of severe mental illness. She said:
I am delighted to have been awarded this title. I am extremely grateful for the support of my academic mentor Mina Fazel and for the opportunity to learn from amazing colleagues across the University and Oxford Health. I am especially grateful to Belinda Lennox for suggesting opportunities to lead on funding applications and for encouraging me to persevere. I am very fortunate to be able to pursue a clinical academic career and conduct research grounded in clinical services."
Amedeo Minichino, Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellow, is the clinical lead for the Oxford Preventive and Early interventioN (OPEN) service, which seeks to help young people at risk of developing severe mental illness, and also researches the role of the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of mental illness. He said:
I’m honoured to be awarded an Associate Professorship. I’m deeply grateful to my mentors and collaborators—Belinda Lennox, Phil Burnet, Philip McGuire, and all my colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry—who have supported me in developing a research programme that bridges psychopharmacology, the microbiome, and neuroscience. I hope this cross-disciplinary work will help drive meaningful impact for patients and shape new ways of thinking about mental health."
Maxime Taquet's research uses 'big data', like electronic health records, brain imaging and mobile phone data, to help characterise and treat psychiatric disorders. He said:
I am delighted to be starting this new role, and even more so to be sharing this milestone with brilliant colleagues. I would like to thank all the mentors, students, funders, patients, and collaborators who have supported me along the way, and to the Department of Psychiatry and NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre for creating such a stimulating and supportive environment."
Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Belinda Lennox, said:
I am delighted for our four new Associate Professors, whose deserving appointments demonstrate the range of brain and mental health research in our Department. I am excited about supporting them in the next stage of their careers as we work to translate scientific breakthroughs into benefits for patients.