South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) has today announced the launch of Maudsley Talks, a flagship lecture and event series designed to showcase world-leading mental health research, insight and clinical practice.
Launching on Wednesday 25 February 2026, the series aims to bridge the gap between academic innovation and frontline care, sharing life-changing insights with clinicians, researchers, and the general public. Building on the Trust’s reputation as the UK’s leading provider of mental health services and our close partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, Maudsley Talks will bring together all clinicians, researchers, academics, and thought leaders to engage audiences across the NHS, academia, policy, and the wider public.
Maudsley Talks will inform, educate and ultimately help to turn the Trust’s rich source of research, insight and innovation into impactful changes to how mental health care is provided across the UK and beyond.
The inaugural lecture, “Mental health across generations: helping mothers, saving children,” will be delivered by Professor Carmine Pariante, Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King’s College London and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist at SLaM. Professor Pariante will explore how supporting maternal mental health is one of the most effective interventions for securing the wellbeing of future generations.
Ade Odunlade, Interim Chief Executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Talking is one of the most therapeutic and powerful tools we have. With Maudsley Talks, we are providing a platform for the sharpest minds in the field to share their expertise.
“This isn’t just a lecture series; it’s a commitment to driving impactful changes in how mental health care is delivered across the UK and beyond, while continuing our work to destigmatise mental health in our communities.”
Maudsley Talks will be a mix of in-person and streamed events creates a new space for clinicians, policy-makers, and the public to come together, build partnerships and demystify and remove stigma from mental health issues.
Professor Carmine Pariante, Guest Speaker for the launch event, added:
“I am honoured to open this series. By bringing research out of the lab and into a public forum, we can better educate and advocate for those who need it most. My talk focuses on the critical ‘window of opportunity’ in perinatal care—a topic that perfectly illustrates how clinical innovation can break cycles of mental ill-health.”
Tickets for the launch event are free and available via Eventbrite. Members of the public and the health community are encouraged to register early, as in-person capacity at the Wolfson Theatre is limited.
