Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck College, University Of London, London, United Kingdom

General Information

Birkbeck College (BC), University of London, is a world-class research and teaching institution, a vibrant centre of academic engagement and excellence and London’s only specialist provider of evening higher education. Birkbeck is a research-intensive university. The Department of Psychological Sciences is rated in the top 5 in the world for citation impact in the field. The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development (CBCD) has suites of neuroimaging and testing facilities optimised for infants and toddlers, and is world-renowned for its research, thrice being named a Marie Curie Centre of Training Excellence. Faculty members come from across the world and lead research projects on 5 continents, creating a multicultural context in which trainees can benefit from international scientific expertise, and multinational collaboration. The CBCD is housed in two purpose-designed buildings that contain extensive laboratory space with state-of-the-art electroencephalography (EEG x 2), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) optical imaging (x 2), eye-tracking (x 3), electromyography (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), electrocardiogram (ECG), accelerometry/motion capture and behavioural testing facilities. Reflecting its interdisciplinary focus, CBCD members have access to the BUCNI MRI facility, the BRIDGE molecular lab for genomics, the Genes Environment and Lifespan (GEL) laboratory and Birkbeck’s Centre for Cognition, Computation and Modelling. A state-of-the-art server and database with associated technical support staff enables robust data management and data sharing. CBCD maintains extensive recruitment databases of participants (including infants, children, and vulnerable populations) that provide access to appropriate participant groups. CBCD has recently secured over £3 million to build a naturalistic testing environment with wireless neuroimaging for toddlers and young children (ToddlerLab). Students, postdoctoral staff and faculty from our multiple labs are housed together within our two laboratory buildings, providing vertical and horizontal integration of expertise sharing.

Emily Jones

BC Lead

Role in AIMS-2-TRIALS

BC will be responsible for coordinating and leading the PHENOCADES study (part of the brain and behaviours in early life studies). As part of this we will conduct postnatal deep phenotyping at four time-points on 150 infants. BC are also actively involved in leading protocol development for the preschool study and its intersection with the EUROSIBS programme. BC lead the design and implementation of EEG and eye tracking-based biomarkers across the Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP), and their integration with preclinical work, genomic analysis, and clinical trial biomarker discovery and implementation strategy. BC will also contribute expertise in the ethics of prospective studies of autism in infancy.

Emily Jones

Emily Jones

Professor

Jannath Begum Ali

Jannath Begum Ali

Postdoctoral Researcher

Teresa Del Biano

Teresa Del Biano

Postdoctoral Researcher

Luke Mason

Luke Mason

Postdoctoral Researcher

Chloe Taylor

Chloe Taylor

Research Assistant

Anna Kolesnik

Anna Kolesnik

Research Assistant