Research projects

Professor Helen Minnis

‌‌Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow

I have a long-standing clinical and research focus on the psychiatric problems of abused and neglected children.  Currently my focus is on intervention research, including a randomised controlled trial of an infant mental health service for young children in foster care and a randomised controlled trial of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy for primary school-aged children in adoptive or foster placements.  I am also conducting behavioural genetics research focused on the role of abuse and neglect, and its overlap with neurodevelopment across the life-course.  I have collaborations with colleagues in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, the Universities of Aalborg and Aarhus, Denmark and with the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Publications

Professor Christopher Gillberg

Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow and Gothenburg / Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre

I have over 40 years’ experience of working with patients/ families with complex psychiatric/ neurodevelopmental problems both clinically and in research. I am also a Visiting/Honorary Professor at the following universities – Edinburgh, University College London, Kochi (among other things working at the Japan Environment and Children Study/JECS) and the Pasteur Institute.

Publications

Dr Fiona Turner-Halliday

Health Psychologist and Research Associate, University of Glasgow

I specialise in qualitative health research and with an interest in interventions for children who have suffered abuse and/or neglect. I lead on the process evaluation of the BeST? services trial and I am undertaking a PhD looking at the ways in which the foster care system impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of infants in foster care who have experienced maltreatment. Since joining the department in 2010, I have explored the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and continue to investigate this line of research.

Dr Ruchika Gajwani

Research Fellow/Honorary Clincial Psychologist

My research focus is youth mental health and wellbeing.  I am currently involved in examining genetic and environmental factors that contribute to mental health difficulties, specifically the links between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) using data on twins in Sweden.  Also, the overlap between NDDs and ACEs in predicting severe mental health difficulties. 

Current research interest includes - neurodevelopmetntal disorders, adverse childhood experiences, affective dysregulation and suicide prevention, youth mental health, early intervention for borderline personality disorder.

Publications 

Dr Jason Lang

Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neurodevelopment, University of Glasgow, and an Honorary Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

My research interests include neurodiversity in children and young people, the co-occurrence of different neurotypes within this population and the experience of being neurodivergent, including equality issues associated with neurodivergence.  I am also interested in how services, early intervention, and environmental interventions can be configured to better serve this population.   I have a longstanding interest in education and I am working on the creation of a national Neurodevelopmental Practitioner course as well as collaborating on the development of an Infant Mental Health course within the University of Glasgow.  I have some lived experience of neurodivergence. I am autistic and I have two daughters who are also neurodivergent. 

Kirsty Macleod

Trial Manager, University of Glasgow

I am a mental health social worker with over 15 years of experience in NHS teams including Early Intervention in Psychosis services, crisis teams, education mental health support and service development.  I joined the team in March 2023 as a trial manager for the BRIDGE Project, a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing an intervention using Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and Services As Usual (SAU) for young people experiencing features of borderline personality disorder.  I will also be working on the Partnership for Change Trial, a coproduction and feasibility RCT of Infant, Parent Support (IPS) to improve the mental health of children with a social worker. 

 

Dr Lorna Ginnell

Trial Manager, University of Glasgow 

I work on the Relationship in Good Hands Trial (RIGHT), a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) for primary school-aged children in adoptive or foster placements.  I am responsible for coordination and management of the study across sites in Scotland, England and Wales.  My role includes ethical approvals, governance, reporting, budget management and site liaison.  Before joining the team in 2023, I completed my PhD in Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.  My research has included work on cognitive outcomes for children born preterm and for those born in low-resource contexts in global majority countries.

Claire Davidson

Speech and Language Therapist and PhD research fellow, University of Glasgow

My work has focused on differential diagnosis between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)/Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED); two diagnostically distinct groups who may present with similar social relationship and communication problems. The aim of my PhD is to develop a new observational tool that focuses on the differences in symptoms between ASD and DSED; the potential benefit of which is to assist clinicians with differential diagnosis.

Gary Kainth

Social Work Research Associate, University of Glasgow

I am a qualified Social Worker who has worked within Children and Families teams for the past 8 years currently specialising in working with vulnerable women during pregnancy and in child protection work with at risk babies and toddlers. Whilst with the local authority I have also spent a number of years in research and evaluation. I am currently seconded to the team and am involved in Process evaluation of the BeST? Services trial. I am also undertaking a PhD in investigating the impact of decisions made in legal for a and of legal processes on longer term mental health outcomes for maltreated children in care.

Irene O'Neill

Senior Business Support Administrator, University of Glasgow / NHS GG&C

I have worked with the team for over 30 years and have built up a wealth of experience of running the department, organising conference and rising funds to support the work of the department. I provide administrative support to various budgets, which includes budget-monitoring, site file maintenance, minute-taking, website development.