A unique facility for children and young people
CRFs are purpose-built spaces where researchers and clinicians carry out scientific and medical studies safely and effectively.
The Pears Maudsley Clinical Research Facility, in the Pears Maudsley Centre in South London, is the only facility of its kind in Europe. It is dedicated to mental health & neurodevelopment research in children and young people, welcoming participants of all ages, from babies through to teenagers.
Designed around children and young people
The Pears Maudsley CRF provides a welcoming, safe place for children and their families and caregivers.
It has been designed to ensure researchers can involve as many children and young people as possible in research – ensuring our work will be more likely to benefit all children.
By being in the same building as clinical services, the facility can welcome all children, including those who are accessing the CAMHS services. Service users wishing to take part in research will be supported by the specialist teams already working with them. The technology and equipment in the CRF are specifically designed for to meet the diverse needs of children, including those with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions.
For example, the tools used to map the brain activity are all silent, comfortable, and allow the child or young person to move relatively freely. This means those who are sensitive to noise, those who might find it hard to stay still, or those who are anxious, will find it much easier to participate in our studies and can take part in ways that suit them.
It is unprecedented to have access to this level of bespoke equipment, designed specifically for children and young people, in a space like the Pears Maudsley Centre. We are absolutely delighted to have these facilities housed here, and look forward to the incredible research that the King's Maudsley Partnership can conduct, working collaboratively with children, young people and their families.
Professor Philip Shaw, Director of the King's Maudsley Partnership
What research takes place here?
The Pears Maudsley CRF will support research studies on mental health and neurodevelopment in children and young people. This includes research into:
- How the brain develops
- Whether we can use neuromodulation techniques to ‘fine tune’ the brain to help ease impairing symptoms found in many conditions
- Studies that cover autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and other neurodevelopmental conditions
Our facility will be open to:
- Clinicians from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)
- Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London (King's IoPPN), including postgraduate students.
- Academic or commercial investigators collaborating with a Principal Investigator from King's IoPPN or SLaM (including those within King’s Health Partners such as GSTT or KCH NHS Trusts).
How to apply to use the CRF
Please contact Stewart Lee Loong (CRF Manager) for a feasibility discussion at the earliest stage possible during the research journey, eg during the grant application stage or if approached by industry.
We have four main approaches to conducting research
Brain imaging
Having your brain scanned can be a source of great anxiety to anyone, but especially for a young person. Our non-invasive scans reflect the needs of the young people we work with:
- They are silent - so your child isn't in a loud machine making unexpected noises
- Children like to move, so our scans don't require our young people to sit still
- "Open" data collection methods mean our scans are completed with lightweight caps rather than your child being placed into a large machine
- Baby safe - These technologies have been designed and tested on even the smallest of developing brains.
Click here to learn more about the type of technology we use at the Pears Maudsley Centre
Brain stimulation
“Treatment” doesn’t have to mean medication or therapy. Neurostimulation (or neuromodulation) is a therapeutic technology that uses tiny targeted electrical pulses, magnetic fields, or even noise, to alter brain activity. Our Centre offers a range of brain stimulation techniques, including :
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which places a magnetic coil against the head, and non-invasively targets areas of the brain associated with our mood
- Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS), which delivers weak, random-frequency electrical currents to the brain via scalp electrodes. It’s designed to affect the responsiveness of brain cells called “neurons” that have an important role in our ability to learn.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), that uses tiny electrical current to stimulate brain cells
Our research will both help us better understand mechanisms in the developing brain and provide new treatment options for those with troublesome symptoms in conditions such as ADHD or depression.
Virtual reality
Our virtual reality (VR) suite features a large VR CAVE. This immersive room projects a simulated environment onto three walls and the floor. We also have a VR lab equipped with the latest headset technology. These tools help researchers safely put participants in controlled scenarios. They can observe responses, giving valuable insights into conditions like autism and anxiety.
Eye tracking and sound research
What we look at, and how we respond to what we see, can help researchers explore attention, social understanding and emotional processing in young people.
We use specially designed eye tracking technology to learn about human development.
Alongside this, our sound research rooms allow researchers to capture and analyse speech and audio recordings, which can provide important indicators about conditions through voice patterns.
Our research technology
The facility spans two floors of the Pears Maudsley Centre and houses some of the most advanced research technology available in the world, allowing us to accommodate the range of needs of young children. Once open, the following equipment will be on site:
- EEG (electroenchpalography) which measures brain activity using lightweight sensors.
- OP-MEG – this technology allows us to map thinking with millisecond accuracy, but measuring the magnetic fields that are created when brain cells fire.
- A mobile MRI - This is a portable, quieter version of traditional MRI. We are part of a network of international researchers, supported by the Gates Foundation who are using this technology in settings where access to traditional MRI is not possible.
Part of a wider research network
The Pears Maudsley Clinical Research Facility is part of the UK Clinical Research Facility Network (UKCRF Network) and King's Health Partnership, supporting research delivery to the highest standards. We are also part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, a collaboration between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and King's College London, which helps turn scientific discoveries into real treatments that benefit patients and communities.
Made possible through generous support
This facility has been made possible through public and charitable funding. We gratefully acknowledge the support of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the NIHR, as well as the Maudsley Charity and its donors, particularly The Prudence Trust, The Rosetrees Trust, and the Wolfson Foundation. Their collective investment in research infrastructure makes it possible to deliver high-quality studies that benefit children, young people, and families across the country.
Get involved with our research
Taking part in research
Find out how children, young people, and families can get involved in research at the facility, and why participation matters for the future of mental health & neurodevelopment in children and young people.
Our research areas
Explore the conditions and themes our researchers are investigating, from autism and ADHD to anxiety, depression.
FAQ's
What is a Clinical Research Facility?
A Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is a purpose-built space where researchers and clinicians can carry out scientific or medical studies safely. CRFs have specialist staff and flexible spaces for research visits and can accommodate a wide range of study procedures - from cognitive tests and physical assessments to brain imaging, therapies, and clinical examinations.
How can my child take part in research?
We welcome children and young people of all ages, from babies upwards, to take part in research studies at the Pears Maudsley Clinical Research Facility. Research opportunities are listed on the Be Part of Research website, and through South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's (SLaM) Children for Change programme.
Who can use the Pears Maudsley Clinical Research Facility?
The facility is open to researchers and clinicians from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, including postgraduate students. Academic or commercial investigators collaborating with a Principal Investigator from either institution are also welcome. All studies require university ethics approval or NHS ethics approval, including Health Research Authority (HRA) approval.