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James Walters

Professor James Walters

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Media commentator

Teams and roles for James Walters

  • Director, Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics; Deputy Director/Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences

    School of Medicine

Overview

My research interests centre on three areas: (i) using genetics to gain insight into the basis of psychosis and schizophrenia including characterising the clinical features of those carrying rare genetic variants (ii) studying the genetic, biological and psychosocial factors associated with treatment-resistant schizophrenia with the aim of stratifying those with psychosis to develop more personalised treatment approaches and (iii) investigating the nature and genetic basis of cognitive deficits across the psychosis spectrum including developing methods of on-line cognitive assessment.

I am the Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health and am an honorary consultant psychiatrist with the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Early Intervention in Psychosis Service.

I am co-lead of the Undergraduate Psychiatry Team for the C21 Medical Undergraduate Curriculum.

Currently I am involved in several project, programme and fellowship grants funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust and Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation.

Publication

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Articles

Book sections

Research

My research interests centre on three areas: (i) using genetics to gain insight into the basis of psychosis and schizophrenia including characterising the clinical features of those carrying rare genetic variants (ii) studying the genetic, biological and psychosocial factors associated with treatment-resistant schizophrenia with the aim of stratifying those with psychosis to develop more personalised treatment approaches and (iii) investigating the nature and genetic basis of cognitive deficits across the psychosis spectrum including developing methods of on-line cognitive assessment. 

Currently I am involved in several project, programme and fellowship grants funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust and Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation.

I am lead supervisor to three PhD students: Dr Kim Kendall (Wellcome Trust fellowship), Amy Lynham (BBRF, MRC Centre) and Dr Gemma Williams (MRC and BBRF funded). I also co-supervise John Hubert (MRC funded).

I also supervise research projects for masters (bioinformatics and biostats, psychiatry) and intercalated degrees as well as offer psychology placements and medical student selected component projects.

Teaching

I am co-lead of the Undergraduate Psychiatry Team for the C21 Medical Undergraduate Curriculum. The innovations and developments of the course we have introduced have been recognised with several local and national awards.

I developed and oversee the Winter School in Psychiatry for medical students.

I also teach on the Psychology and Medicine Intercalated degree course, the core PhD teaching course and the Summer School.

Biography

Honours and awards

In 2016 I was awarded the inaugural Cardiff University Dean of Research Excellence award.

In 2012 I received the Baer Prize for Innovative Research in Schizophrenia awarded by the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation.

News articles

The annual Summer School in Brain Disorders Research, hosted by Cardiff University's Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) and the National Centre for Mental Health, returned this July for its sixteenth year.

International summer school reaches new heights in its sixteenth year

30 July 2026

The annual Summer School in Brain Disorders Research, hosted by Cardiff University's Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) and the National Centre for Mental Health, returned this July for its sixteenth year.

GlobalMinds’ three-year study led by mental health data science company Akrivia Health Ltd in partnership with Cardiff University

Thousands recruited for “new era” severe mental illness study

16 February 2026

GlobalMinds’ three-year study led by mental health data science company Akrivia Health Ltd in partnership with Cardiff University

A new Mental Health Platform Research Hub, which will advance the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness

£4.3 million for world-leading research into severe mental illness

27 February 2024

A new Mental Health Platform Research Hub, which will advance the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness

One of the world’s leading centres for research into the underlying causes of mental health issues is marking its 10th anniversary.

World-leading mental health research centre celebrates ‘decade of discovery'

05 November 2019

One of the world’s leading centres for research into the underlying causes of mental health issues is marking its 10th anniversary.

More people of African descent with treatment-resistant schizophrenia could be safely given drug best proven to manage symptoms

Improved outlook for people of African descent with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

26 February 2019

More people of African descent with treatment-resistant schizophrenia could be safely given drug best proven to manage symptoms

Harnessing the power of big data in mental health research

New grant for mental health research

27 March 2018

Harnessing the power of big data in mental health research

50 new gene regions that increase risk of developing schizophrenia

Genetics researchers close in on schizophrenia

26 February 2018

50 new gene regions that increase risk of developing schizophrenia

Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn to give public talk at University

Psychosis: A journey of hope and discovery

06 June 2017

Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn to give public talk at University

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29206 88434
Campuses Hadyn Ellis Building, Room 2.17, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

External profiles