ISAD London 2025: Mapping the Future of Affective Disorder Treatments

We are delighted to welcome you to the ISAD 2025 Regional Meeting, hosted by the Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD). ISAD Events are amongst the foremost mood disorders meetings, gathering the Affective Disorders community to share latest research, clinical expertise and discuss future directions.

The Scientific Programme will include stimulating talks and interactive sessions by leading experts and early career reserachers, reflecting the wide spectrum of research in affective disorders, with a focus on optimisation, innovation, and personalisation of treatments.

Join us for an exciting meeting filled with cutting-edge scientific discussion and excellent networking opportunities. We look forward to seeing you there!

Provisional Programme*

Day 1: Friday, 07 November

08:30-09:00 Registration

09:00-09:05 Welcome & Introduction from ISAD President, Professor Anthony Cleare

09:05-10:05 Symposium 1: Host Symposium: Centre for Affective Disorders

Chair: Professor Roland Zahn, King’s College London

Presenters: A selection of talks from groups across the Centre, showcasing the latest work on the pathophysiology, treatment and recurrence risk in mood disorders

10:05-10:30 Coffee break

10:30-12:00 Symposium 2: The LQD study and beyond

Chair: Professor Allan Young, Imperial College London, UK

Presenters: Professor Anthony Cleare, King’s College London, UK; Professor Michael Browning, University of Oxford, UK; Professor Philip Cowen, University of Oxford, UK

12:00-12:30 Keynote Session 1: Medical Assistance in Dying for those suffering from a mental disorder and treatment resistant depression – searching for a best medical and ethical definition

Presented by: Professor Kenneth Kaufman, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group, USA

12:30-13:30 Lunch break

13:30-14:45 Symposium 3: Personalising psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for people with depression

Presenters: Professor Jaime Delgadillo, King’s College London, UK; Professor Barney Dunn, University of Exeter, UK; Professor Roos van Westrhenen, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Netherlands

14:45-15:15 Coffee break

15:15 -15:45 Sponsored session, TBA

15:45-16:15 Keynote Session 2: Inflammation and depression

Presented by: Professor Ed Bullmore, King’s College London, UK

16:15-17:00 ISAD Debate: Antidepressant discontinuation, title TBC

Chair: Professor Allan Young, Imperial College London, UK

Debatants: Dr Sameer Jauhar, Imperial College London, UK; Professor David Taylor, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust/King’s College London, UK

17:00 Networking

19:00 Speaker dinner

Day 2: Saturday, 08 November

08:30-09:00 Registration

9:00-10:15 Symposium 4: The Body Talks: The gut, heart, and immune system in affective disorders

Presenters: Dr Calum Moulton, King’s College London, UK; Dr Toby Pillinger, King’s College London, UK; Professor Valeria Mondelli, King’s College London, UK

10:15-10:45 Coffee break

10:45-11:30 Symposium 5: Lithium: old drug, new tricks

Presenters: Dr Rebecca Strawbridge, King’s College London, UK; Dr David Cousins, Newcastle University, UK;

11:30-12:00 Sponsored session, TBA

12:00-12:30 Keynote Session 3: The role of genetics in depression and antidepressant treatment

Presented by: Professor Cathryn Lewis, King’s College London, UK

12:30-13:30 Lunch break

13:30-15:00 Symposium 6: SPA-ISAD Joint symposium: Embedding research and training into clinical practice: the Swedish experience

Co-Chairs: Ass. Professor Jonas Eberhard, Swedish Psychiatric Association (SPA) President & Professor Fiona Gaughran, King’s College London

Presenters: Ass. Professor Steinn Steingrimsson, Gothenburg University, Sweden; Ass. Professor Matilda Naesström, Umeå University, Sweden; Ass. Professor Jonas Eberhard, Lund University, Sweden; Dr Amir Englund, King’s College London, UK

15:00-15:30 Coffee break

15.30-17:00 Symposium 7: Altered Horizons: Clinical and Mechanistic Advances in Psychoactive Therapies

Presenters: Dr James Rucker, King’s College London, UK; Dr David Erritzoe, Imperial College London, UK; Dr Luke Jelen, King’s College London, UK

17:00 CLOSE

* programme subject to change