Vikram Patel

Education Patel was educated at the University of Mumbai, (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 1987) and the University of London where he was awarded a PhD in 1997 for research on mental disorders in Harare.

Career Patel’s work spans a variety of topics and disciplines including epidemiology, medicine, psychology, disability, neurological disease, Non-communicable diseases, public health, substance abuse, economic evaluation, and implementation research. His primary interest, however, is in global mental health, specifically the improved treatment and care of people with mental disorders around the globe. His work has been financially supported by the London-based biomedical research charity The Wellcome Trust since 1996 where he has served as Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Science since 2005.

He currently serves on four Government of India committees: the Mental Health Policy Group (which drafted India’s first national mental health policy, launched on 10 October 2014); the National Rural Health Mission ASHA Mentoring Group; the National Human Rights Commission Core Committee on Health; and the Technical Advisory Group of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram. He was Founding and Joint Director of the Centre for Global Mental Health, a partner of the LSHTM with Kings Health Partners, until handing over the role to Professor Ricardo Araya in October 2014. He is currently Joint Director of the Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries at the Public Health Foundation of India located in New Delhi. Sangath is now ranked amongst India's leading public health research institutions.

In 2003, he wrote the book Where There Is No Psychiatrist, a mental health care manual primarily used in developing countries by non-specialist health workers and volunteers.

He also coordinates short courses on Leadership in Mental Health with Sangath in India.

Research Patel has published over 250 peer reviewed scientific articles. 2015: Awarded a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship in Clinical Science (UK).