Dr. Fiona Coutts is an emerging researcher making significant contributions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental healthcare innovation. She currently serves as a Research Associate in Transdiagnostic Machine Learning within the Department of Psychosis Studies at King's College London, where she develops advanced predictive models for clinical applications. Dr. Coutts received her undergraduate MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge in 2017 before pursuing graduate studies at King's College London, earning an MSc in Genes, Environment and Development in Psychology and Psychiatry in 2018. She continued her academic journey with an MRes in Neurodevelopmental Disorders in 2019 and successfully completed her PhD in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Philip McGuire and Professor Nikolaos Koutsouleris.
Her pioneering research focuses on constructing sophisticated machine learning models designed to predict adverse outcomes and inform treatment decisions across mental health disorders including psychosis, depression, and bipolar disorder. During her doctoral work, Dr. Coutts developed innovative approaches to predict clinical trajectories in psychosis populations by integrating multimodal data streams encompassing clinical assessments, environmental factors, cognitive measures, and genetic information from large multisite studies. Her transdiagnostic methodology represents a paradigm shift from traditional diagnostic categories toward identifying common biological and psychological mechanisms across mental health conditions. This work has established new frameworks for personalized treatment planning that could significantly improve recovery rates and reduce hospitalization needs for individuals with severe mental illnesses, demonstrating substantial translational potential for clinical implementation.
As a key member of the Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health (AIM) lab, Dr. Coutts is advancing the field of multimodal prediction modeling through collaborative research that bridges computational science and clinical practice. Her expertise spans the application of artificial intelligence to early intervention strategies and understanding treatment response patterns across mental health disorders, with particular focus on mechanistic overlap and comorbidity. Dr. Coutts has demonstrated commitment to public engagement through her service on the Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Public Engagement Committee from 2022 to 2023, showcasing her dedication to responsible knowledge translation. Currently expanding her research beyond psychosis to encompass broader mental health populations, she is positioned to make increasingly significant contributions to the development of precision psychiatry approaches that optimize treatment selection and improve patient outcomes through data-driven decision support systems.
