Dr Valeria Parlatini receives NIHR Advanced Fellowship to predict response to ADHD treatment

Dr Valeria Parlatini, Associate Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, has received an NIHR Advanced Fellowship worth nearly £1.4 million to support effective treatment of ADHD.

Almost two million children and adults have Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the UK. Due to high demand for ADHD medication, they can often wait years to start treatment, and it can take months to find the most appropriate medication for them.

A drug called Methylphenidate (MPH) is usually given to patients first and needs to be taken every day for several weeks before a clinician can tell if it is appropriate for them. If MPH does not work, patients will then try other medicines, one by one.

“This approach is expensive and delays getting the right treatment,” said Valeria. “Without appropriate treatment, people with ADHD may do poorly in school or work, or have accidents.”

The NIHR Advanced Fellowship funding, which runs until August 2030, will support research which aims to predict who is going to benefit from MPH or not in the longer term - based on pre-treatment clinical, cognitive and physiological characteristics. If this approach works, it could help children and adults with ADHD receive effective treatment sooner.

It has enabled the development of the 3i-lab for Individualised and Inclusive Interventions in mental health, which is devoted to developing strategies to support more tailored and cost-effective interventions. Part of the Centre for Innovation in Mental Health at the University of Southampton, the 3i-lab brings together a multidisciplinary team across Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering.

The research project is being led by Valeria alongside Professor Sam Chamberlain and Dr Nathan Huneke .

Valeria said: “As a clinical academic, I am deeply motivated to bring positive change in the way we provide care for people with ADHD. The novel approach could help provide more tailored treatment, overcoming a one-size-fits-all approach, and could contribute to empower clinical services to meet the increasing demands.

“I also look forward to developing my own research team and help them grow as successful researchers."

The NIHR Advanced Fellowship is a postdoctoral award that provide funding and support to individuals with the potential, and on a trajectory, to become future leaders in research. The Advanced Fellowship supports individuals undertaking research in any scientific discipline or sector that can demonstrate a contribution to improving health and/or care.

Find out more about the project on the website