Frequently asked questions
How long does the visit take?
The visit usually starts in the morning and ends in the afternoon. You can visit us during weekdays or weekends, including some holidays. If you prefer you can visit us for two shorter days. This includes time to play all
games, the MRI, taking samples and having plenty of breaks for you and your child.
How many families are you recruiting?
We are planning to recruit 350 families over 6 years.
What if my child doesn't want to play some of the games or participate in some of the procedures during the visit?
That is absolutely fine! We understand that some children may find some games more interesting than others and
sometimes we may need to skip some games or procedures. Our team is very experienced in working with children.
What do I need to bring along on the day?
On the day, we will provide lunch and snacks, but please feel free to bring your own too. We ask you to bring your child's red book, if available.
What is the benefit of taking part?
We hope that information from this study will improve the understanding of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other viral agents, on child development, so you will be directly supporting this goal. We will also cover travel costs to get to us, food on the day and a gift voucher to say thank you for participating. ​
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Who approved this study?
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How long is the MRI duration?
The total MRI scanning will take around 40 minutes with some additional time for set-up.
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How will bio-samples be stored?
All samples will be stored, transported and analysed confidently and securely on King’s premises or NHS partner facilities in a pseudo-anonymised way (your child’s name would not be associated with the sample but kept separately on secure KCL/NHS servers). In the case samples will need to be sent to an external lab, we will have a legal contract in place. Procedures will follow the Human Tissue Authority regulations
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Am I still eligible if my child was born 2024 and not during the Covid-19 lockdowns?
Yes absolutely, we are interested in children born from 2020-2024 as mothers could have still contracted SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy at the later years. We are also interested in the wider impact of the pandemic in those without infection or direct lockdown experiences during pregnancy, as not everyone was affected in the same way.
What if my child refuses to give bio samples?
We do offer hair sample collection; in the instance a child is distressed by donating blood. However, all bio-sample collection is entirely optional and would not affect your child’s participation in the rest of the activities during the day should they decline.
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How do I travel to you?
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Address: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AB.
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By road: Main road links from the south are A3/A23/A2217, or A2/A20/A205/A202. Main road links from the north cross the River Thames at Vauxhall Bridge/A202. We do have a car park, though spaces are limited. ​
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By rail: We are located in Zone 2, with the closest railway station being Denmark Hill (around 4 minute walk away) served by the Overground Windrush line (formerly "Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon route"). Alternatively the closest tube stations are Oval (Northern Line - 1.3 miles away) or Brixton Station (Victoria Line, 1.2 Miles away), both stations are around a 25 minute walk or have connecting bus routes from the stations to the research centre. ​
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By Bus: We have a number of Bus links nearby to the research centre, including bus routes: 40, 42, 68, 176, 185, 484.