ProfessorDasha Nicholls

I am Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. I lead the Child and Adolescent Mental Health research group in the Division of Psychiatry, of which I was Deputy Head (2020-25). I am Clinical and Strategic Director for National Audits and Research in the College Centre for Quality Improvement at the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), with current responsibility for delivery on the National Audits of Psychosis, Eating Disorders and Dementia. I was National Speciality Advisor on All Age Eating Disorders to NHS England (2022-26), developing and disseminating best practice and training for the care of people with eating disorders from prevention through to inpatient care. I was a practising Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Central and Northwest London NHS Trust Children and Young People's Eating Disorders Service (2018-25) and previously co-led the National Feeding and Eating Disorders service at Great Ormond Street Hospital. (2001-2018). 

I led the Multimorbidity and Mental Health theme for the North West London Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) (2019-26) and the ARC Outreach Alliance programme to build research infrastature for CYP mental health in NW London. I am past chair of the RCPsych Eating Disorders Faculty and was a member of the RCPsych Board of Trustees. I am Past President of the Academy of Eating Disorders, and instigated development of the British Eating Disorders Society. I led development and revision of the guidelines on the management of medical emergencies in eating disorders (MEED). I co-founded the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Surveillance System.