Professor Francesca Happé is a world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist and preeminent authority in autism research with over thirty years of transformative contributions to the field. She currently serves as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, where she directs the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre. Happé completed her BA in Experimental Psychology at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, before undertaking her PhD at the MRC Cognitive Development Unit at University College London under the supervision of Professor Uta Frith. Her distinguished career began at the MRC Cognitive Development Unit from 1991 to 1995, followed by a Human Frontiers Fellowship in Boston, before she joined the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry in 1995, where she has remained ever since, rising through the ranks to become Director of the Centre from 2012 to 2019.
Professor Happé's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of social cognition and 'mentalising' difficulties in autism spectrum conditions through rigorous multi-methodological approaches spanning cognitive experiments, functional neuroimaging, and behavior genetic studies. Her seminal work exploring the nature of social understanding in neurotypical development and its variations in autism has established critical theoretical frameworks that continue to guide contemporary research. Happé has made pioneering contributions to identifying both challenges and strengths in autism, particularly investigating the relationship between detail-focused cognitive styles and autistic traits, which has transformed clinical understanding of the condition. Her recent research has expanded to address critical knowledge gaps regarding mental health across the autism spectrum and under-researched subgroups including women and the elderly, developing novel socio-cognitive tasks that have become standard assessment tools in the field.
As a visionary leader, Professor Happé served as President of the International Society for Autism Research from 2013 to 2015, significantly shaping the global research agenda and fostering international collaboration in autism studies. Her influential publications, including co-authoring the seminal text 'Autism: A New Introduction to Psychological Theory and Debate' and 'Girls and Autism: Educational, Family and Personal Perspectives,' have become essential references for researchers and practitioners worldwide. Happé actively translates scientific knowledge for broader audiences through prominent media engagements including BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific, Horizon documentaries, and Channel 4 programming, demonstrating exceptional science communication skills. Currently, her work continues to break new ground in understanding autism across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on mental health disparities and gender differences, ensuring her enduring impact on both scientific understanding and clinical practice in neurodevelopmental conditions.
