Researcher profile

Catherine Harmer

Prof Catherine Harmer is a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Associate Head (people and culture) at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. She is Director of the Psychopharmacology and Emotion Research Lab (PERL), an inter-disciplinary group of 25 members including psychiatrists, psychologists, neuroscientists and pharmacologists. They aim to improve understanding and application of antidepressant drug treatment using a variety of techniques including neuropsychological testing, fMRI, psychopharmacological challenges and brain stimulation. The group members work within academia and together with industry to progress development, understanding and personalisation of treatment for depression and anxiety. Prof Harmer is the current president of the British Assocaition for Psychopharmacology (BAP), the Lead for Depression Therapeutics at the Oxford Health NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and an elected fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.