Dr Noura S Vyas
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
- Department of Psychology
- School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Penrhyn Road
- Behaviour, Business and Policy
Associate Professor of Mental Health and Course Director, MSc Clinical Applications of Psychology
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am an Associate Professor in Psychology at Kingston University London, with over 14 years of experience teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students. I assumed the role as Course Director of the MSc Clinical Applications of Psychology in 2025 and previously held a Course Director role on the Foundation Year in Social Sciences (2018-2022). My academic journey began with a PhD in Psychiatry from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), University of London, followed by a postdoctoral training as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar and Lindemann Trust Fellow at the Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Washington, DC, USA.
My research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of serious psychiatric disorders. I employ integrative methodologies spanning clinical, genetic, neurocognitive, and neuroimaging approaches (including MEG, PET, DTI, and fMRI) to elucidate the mechanisms underlying psychopathology. My work has recently expanded to include interdisciplinary collaborations on oncology, artificial intelligence, and mindfulness-based interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Honours and awards
- 2017: Women of the Year Award, British Asian Achievers Award
- 2017: Team Excellence Award, Succeed Canvas project, Rose Awards.
- 2017: "Highly Commended" STEM Leader, Forward Ladies National Awards (London & South Regional Final)
- 2017: ‘Inspirational Role Model of the Year' (Finalist) category, European Diversity Awards
- 2017: ‘Women of the Future Awards – Science' (Finalist) category, Women of the Future Awards
- 2017: Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Award
- 2017: Young Investigator Award, 13th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry (Copenhagen, Denmark).
- 2016: Outstanding Women in Science, Technology & Mathematics (STEM), Precious Award.
- 2016: Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
- 2016: Marquis Who's Who in the World (33rd edition)
- 2011: Lindemann Trust Fellowship, English-Speaking Union
- 2011: Fulbright Black History Month Travel Award, US-UK Fulbright Commission.
- 2010: Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award, US-UK Fulbright Commission.
- 2010: Asian Achievers Award (AAA) Gold Award for Achievement in Healthcare.
- 2009: Young Scientist Award, Ninth World Congress of Biological Psychiatry (Paris, France).
- 2009: Travel Award, Neuroscience and Mental Health Interdisciplinary Research Group, Cardiff, to present at the European Congress on Psychiatry conference 2009 (Lisbon, Portugal).
- 2008: Young Researcher Award, Third International Conference on Schizophrenia (Chennai, India).
- 2008: Travel Award, American Genetics Association Annual Symposium (Raleigh, NC, USA).
Instagram: @mentalhealth_connect
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- Associate Fellow (AFBPsS), British Psychological Society
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE) with Distinction
- Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (GCAP) with Distinction
- Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society
- Chartered Scientist, The Science Council
- PhD, Psychiatry, University of London (King's College London)
- BSc (Hons) Psychology, City University London
Domains
- 2018 - current: KAPS Panel Assessor (SFHEA applications)
- 2025 - current: programme leader, MSc Psychology conversion (online) degree
- 2024 - 2025: co-lead, MSc Psychology conversion (online) degree
- 2018 - 2022: Course Director, Foundation Year in social sciences
- 2016 - 2018: Faculty Champion (FASS) for a large-scale university initiative to evolve teaching and learning through the rollout of the new Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas.
Course director
Courses taught
Research Funding
- 2010-11: Examining brain connectivity, genes and neurocognition of childhood-onset schizophrenia and high-risk siblings. Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award, US-UK Fulbright Commission.
- 2011-12: Brain connectivity in childhood-onset schizophrenia and their healthy siblings. Lindeman Trust Fellowship, English Speaking Union.
- 2013-2015: Brain oscillatory patterns in childhood-onset schizophrenia. Research Capability Fund, Kingston University London.
- 2015: Dopamine receptor imaging in bipolar disorder. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
- 2016: Multimodal imaging and cognition in schizophrenia. Churchill Fellowship, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
- 2020-21: Cognitive testing facilities. UKRI World Class Laboratories (WCL) Fund.
- 2020-21: Cognitive functioning in patients with lymphoma. CResCID grant, Kingston University London.
- 2020-21: Neurocognition in psychosis. CResCID grant, Kingston University London.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- 26. Vyas NS, et al. Cognitive function in early onset schizophrenia. In Preparation
- 25. Wadhen V, Pavey L, Vyas NS. The Effectiveness of Yoga Interventions in Improving Wellbeing and Productivity of Desk-based Workers: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. In Preparation.
- 24. Vyas NS, Burke L, Buxton J, Netherwood S, Caviston P, Simic M, Buchsbaum MS. Association of susceptibility genes and cognitive performance in schizophrenia. Under review.
- 23. Vyas NS, Burke L, Netherwood S, Caviston P, Simic M, Buchsbaum MS (2022). Neurocognitive profile of adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings. World J Biol Psychiatry, 23 (9), 677-688 doi: 10.1080/15622975.2021.2023758.
- 22. Mitelman SA, Buchsbaum MS, Vyas NS, Christian BT, Merrill BM, Buchsbaum BR, Mitelman AM, Mukherjee J, Lehrer DS (2021). Reading abilities and dopamine D 2/D 3 receptor availability: An inverted U-shaped association in subjects with schizophrenia. Brain & Language. 223, 105046. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2021.105046.
- 21. Vyas NS, Buchsbaum MS, Lehrer DS, Merrill BM, DeCastro A, Doninger A, Christian BT, Mukherjee J (2018). D2/D3 dopamine receptor binding with [F-18]fallypride correlates of executive function in medication-naïve patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 192, 442-456. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.05.017.
- 20. Vyas NS, Wang Y, Vyas SS, Killackey E, Haugland T-A, Chan RCK (2017). Theory of mind in the early course of schizophrenia. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 13 (2), 102-110. doi: 10.2174/1573400513666170502125017
- 19. Vyas NS, Birchwood M, Singh SP (2015). Youth Services: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Adolescents. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 32, 13-19.
- 18. Vyas NS, Ahn K, Stahl DR, Caviston P, Simic M, Netherwood S, Puri BK, Lee Y, Aitchison KJ (2014). Association of KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism with episodic memory in the early stages of a human neurodevelopmental disorder. Psychiatry Research, 220 (1-2), 37-43.
- 17. Vyas NS, Patel NH, Herscovitch P, Puri BK, Lanzenberger R (2013). Recent Developments in Neurochemical Imaging in Schizophrenia: An Update. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 20 (3), 351-356
- 16. Weisinger B, Greenstein D, Mattai A, Clasen L, Lalonde F, Feldman S, Miller R, Tossell JW, Vyas NS, Stidd R, David C, Gogtay N (2013). Lack of Gender Influence on Cortical and Subcortical Gray Matter Development in Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 39 (1), 52-58.
- 15. Vyas NS, Lee Y, Ahn K, Ternouth A, Stahl D, Al-Chalabi A, Powell JF, Puri BK (2012). Association of a Serotonin Receptor 2A Gene Polymorphism and Visual Sustained Attention in Early Onset Schizophrenia and their Non-Psychotic Siblings. Aging and Disease, 3(4), 291-300.
- 14. Vyas NS, Puri BK (2012). Association of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism on general intellectual ability in early onset schizophrenia. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 49 (2), 137-142.
- 13. Vyas NS, Gogtay N (2012). Treatment of Early Onset Schizophrenia: Recent Trends, Challenges and Future Considerations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 3(29) 1-5.
- 12. Vyas NS, Shamsi SA, Malhotra AK, Aitchison KJ, Kumari V (2012). Can Genetics Inform the Management of Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia? Journal of Psychopharmacology, 26, 334-348.
- 11. Gogtay N*, Vyas NS *, Testa R, Wood SJ, Pantelis C* (2011). Age of Onset of Schizophrenia: Perspectives form Structural Neuroimaging Studies. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 37 (4), 503-514.
- 10. Vyas NS, Patel NH, Puri BK (2011). Neurobiology and Phenotypic Expression in Early Onset Schizophrenia. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 5 (2), 3-14.
- 9. Vyas NS, Patel NH, Nijran KS, Al-Nahhas A, Puri BK (2011). The Use of PET Imaging in Studying Cognition, Genetics and Pharmacotherapeutics Interventions in Schizophrenia. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 11 (1), 37-51.
- 8. Kumar CTS, Christodoulou T, Vyas NS, Kyriakopoulous M, Corrigall R, Reichenberg A, Frangou S (2010). Deficits in Visual Sustained Attention Differentiate Genetic Liability and Disease Expression for Schizophrenia from Bipolar Disorder. Schizophrenia Research, 124 (1-3), 152-160.
- 7. Vyas NS, Kumra S, Puri BK (2010). What Insights Can We Gain from Studying Early-Onset Schizophrenia? The Neurodevelopmental Pathway and Beyond. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 10 (8), 1243-1247.
- 6. Vyas NS*, Patel NH*, Nijran KS, Al-Nahhas A, Puri BK (2010). Insights on Schizophrenia using Positron Emission Tomography Imaging: Building the Evidence and Refining the Focus. British Journal of Psychiatry, 197 (1), 3-4.
- 5. Patel NH, Vyas NS, Puri BK, Nijran KS, Al-Nahhas A (2010). Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in Schizophrenia: A New Perspective. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 51 (4), 511-520.
- 4. Vyas NS, Patel NH, Nijran KS, Al-Nahhas A, Puri BK (2010). Can PET/CT Imaging Advance Our Understanding of the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia? Nuclear Medicine Communications, 31 (2), 91-93.
- 3. Kyriakopoulos M, Perez-Iglesias R, Woolley JB, Kanaan RAA, Vyas NS, Barker GJ, Frangou S, McGuire PK (2009). Age of Onset Modifies Location of White Matter Abnormalities in Schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195 (4), 346-353.
- 2. Kyriakopoulos M, Vyas NS, Chitnis X, Barker GJ, Frangou S (2008). Parietal White Matter Abnormalities in Early Onset Schizophrenia: A Voxel-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Biological Psychiatry, 63 (5), 519-523.
- 1. Vyas NS, Hadjulis M, Vourdas A, Byrne P, Frangou S (2007). The Maudsley Early Onset Schizophrenia Study. Predictors of Psychosocial Outcome at 4-year Follow-Up. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 16 (7), 465-470.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- PhD Psychiatry
- CSci
- CPsychol
- AFBPsS
Specialisms
- psychosis
- neuroimaging
- neuropsychology
- mindfulness
Scholarly affiliations
- Department of Imaging, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Series guest speaker on mental health with Resourceful Women's Network, Riverside Radio, Healing our Earth online platform, and Dharma Mandir.
- Organiser of public engagement talks supporting mental health initiatives.
- Contributor to the KU Blogs ("how to recharge your mind", and "How to get a better night's sleep").
- South West Londoner newspaper "Bipolar disorder: Can social media be used to diagnose mental illness?" by Lucy Dyer.
- Course Leader, MSc Clinical Applications of Psychology
- Programme Leader, Msc Psychology conversion (online)
- I served as School civic engagement and knowledge exchange lead.
- I served as Course Director on the Foundation Year in Social Sciences for 4 years.
Publications
Exploring the effectiveness of yoga interventions in improving the well-being and productivity of desk-based workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wadhen, Vipin, Pavey, Louisa and Vyas, Nora S., 2025, Applied Psychology (74), 6, Published
Neurocognitive profile of adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings
Vyas, Nora S., Burke, Lisa, Netherwood, Siobhan, Caviston, Paul, Simic, Mima and Buchsbaum, Monte S., 2022, World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (23), 9pp 677-688, Published
Reading abilities and dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability: an inverted U-shaped association in subjects with schizophrenia
Mitelman, Serge A., Buchsbaum, Monte S., Vyas, Nora S., Christian, Bradley T., Merrill, Brian M., Buchsbaum, Bradley R., Mitelman, Alexis M., Mukherjee, Jogeshwar and Lehrer, Douglas S., 2021, Brain and Language (223), Published
D2/D3 dopamine receptor binding with [F-18]fallypride correlates of executive function in medication-naïve patients with schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S., Buchsbaum, Monte S., Lehrer, Douglas S., Merrill, Brian M., DeCastro, Alex, Doninger, Nicholas A., Christian, Bradley T. and Mukherjee, Jogeshwar, 2018, Schizophrenia Research (192)pp 442-456, Published
Theory of mind in the early course of schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S., Wang, Yi, Vyas, Shemin S., Killackey, Eoin, Haugland, Tor Arne and Chan, Raymond C.K., 2017, Current Psychiatry Reviews (13), 2pp 102-110, Published
Youth services: meeting the mental health needs of adolescents
Vyas, N. S., Birchwood, M. and Singh, S. P., 2015, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (32), 1pp 13-19, Published
Association of KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism with episodic memory in the early stages of a human neurodevelopmental disorder
Vyas, Nora S., Ahn, Kwangmi, Stahl, Daniel R., Caviston, Paul, Simic, Mima, Netherwood, Siobhan, Puri, Basant K., Lee, Yohan and Aitchison, Katherine J., 2014, Psychiatry Research (220), 1-2pp 37-43, Published
The use of PET imaging in studying cognition, genetics and pharmacotherapeutic interventions in schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S., Patel, Neva H., Nijran, Kuldip S., Al-Nahhas, Adil and Puri, Basant K., 2014, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics (11), 1pp 37-51, Published
Recent Developments in Neurochemical Imaging in Schizophrenia: An Update
Vyas, Nora S., Patel, Neva H., Herscovitch, Peter, Puri, Basant K. and Lanzenberger, Rupert, 2013, Current Medicinal Chemistry (20), 3pp 351-356, Published
Evidence for an association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met gene polymorphism and general intellectual ability in early-onset schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S. and Basant, K., 2012, Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences (49), 2pp 137-144, Published
Treatment of early onset schizophrenia: recent trends, challenges and future considerations.
Vyas, Nora S. and Gogtay, Nitin, 2012, Frontiers in Psychiatry (3), Published
Can genetics inform the management of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia?
Vyas, Nora S., Shamsi, Syed A., Malhotra, Anil K., Aitchison, Katherine J. and Kumari, Veena, 2012, Journal of Psychopharmacology (26), 3pp 334-48, Published
Age of onset of schizophrenia: perspectives from structural neuroimaging studies.
Gogtay, Nitin, Vyas, Nora S., Testa, Renee, Wood, Stephen J. and Pantelis, Christos, 2011, Schizophrenia Bulletin (37), 3pp 504-13, Published
Neurobiology and phenotypic expression in early onset schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S., Patel, Neva H. and Puri, Basant K., 2011, Early Intervention in Psychiatry (5), 1pp 3-14, Published
What insights can we gain from studying early-onset schizophrenia? The neurodevelopmental pathway and beyond.
Vyas, Nora S., Kumra, Sanjiv and Puri, Basant K., 2010, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics (10), 8pp 1243-1247, Published
Insights into schizophrenia using positron emission tomography: building the evidence and refining the focus
Vyas, Nora S., Patel, Neva H., Nijran, Kuldip S., Al-Nahhas, Adil and Puri, Basant K., 2010, British Journal of Psychiatry (197), 1pp 3-4, Published
Positron emission tomography in schizophrenia: a new perspective
Patel, Neva H., Vyas, Nora S., Puri, Basant K., Nijran, Kuldip S. and Al-Nahhas, Adil, 2010, Journal of Nuclear Medicine (51), 4pp 511-520, Published
Effect of age at onset of schizophrenia on white matter abnormalities
Kyriakopoulos, Marinos, Perez-Iglesias, Rocio, Woolley, James B., Kanaan, Richard A.A., Vyas, Nora S., Barker, Gareth J., Frangou, Sophia and McGuire, Philip K., 2009, British Journal of Psychiatry (195), 4pp 346-353, Published
A diffusion tensor imaging study of white matter in early-onset schizophrenia
Kyriakopoulos, Marinos, Vyas, Nora S., Barker, Gareth J., Chitnis, Xavier A. and Frangou, Sophia, 2008, Biological Psychiatry (63), 5pp 519-523, Published
Schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora S., Driver, David I. and Gogtay, Nitin (2024). In: Troop-Gordon, Wendy, Neblett, Enrique W., (eds.), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.:pp 498-511 [Published]
Putting technology in the frame: multiple lenses on evidenced based practice in a university wide roll out
Lawrence, David, Avery, Barry, Preston, Anne, Price, Linda, Downward, Stuart, Orwell, Suzan, Beardsmore, James, Casanova, Diogo, Dias Fonseca, Tania, Vyas, Nora, Lock, Nick and Alsop, Graham(2017). [Published]
D2/D3 dopamine receptor binding with [F-18] fallypride correlates of executive function in medication-naive patients with schizophrenia
Vyas, Nora, Lehrer, Douglas, Merrill, Brian, DeCastro, Alex, Doninger, Nicholas, Christian, Bradley, Mukherjee, Jogeshwar and Buchsbaum, Monte(2017). [Published]
Videos of my work
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Mental Health and Wellbeing
Dr Vyas talks about mental health and effectiveness of mindfulness
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What is schizophrenia?
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Meditation commentary - experience
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WMHD2021_part1
World Mental Health Day in association with HOE and Kingston University
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WMHD2021_part2
World Mental Health Day (part 2) in association with HOE and Kingston University