What’s the project?
Cognitive remediation is a digital psychological intervention which has been shown to improve brain cognition and functioning. Practicing the digital tasks can support and overcome barriers to recovery in people living with mental health issues. This is through the end user devising strategies to complete the tasks, cognitive learning and skills transfer.
The CIRCuiTS programme requires a human therapist to support engagement with it. The research team plan to develop an artificial intelligence chatbot to support the safe, effective and efficient delivery of CIRCuiTS. The chatbot can act as a co-therapist and support engagement with the programme.
The CIRCuiTS study is led by Kings College London and funded by the Wellcome Trust.
For more information see the study website: (link)
Find out more
The project will last 5 years and will start in early 2026. There will be four online meetings each year, occasional in-person workshops, focus groups and there will also be email tasks throughout.
We are looking for UK based people who live in or close to London. You must be aged 16 to 35 and have lived experience of schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or depression with a diagnosis.
You must have some previous experience supporting public and patient involvement.
Through a series of online and in-person meetings and tasks set by email, you will help support and develop an artificial intelligence chatbot to support use of the CIRCuiTS programme which is designed to improve cognition and thinking skills in people with a schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or depression diagnosis.
- Has lived experience of mental illness (schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or depression diagnosis).
- Has an interest in digital therapy, chatbots and digital technology.
- Some experience of supporting projects with Patient and Public Involvement.
- Lives in the UK, in or near London.
- Can travel to Central London for the occasional in-person workshop.
- Can attend online meetings using MS Teams or Zoom. You will need a personal computer or smartphone, with a camera and microphone. You will also need headphones with a microphone, if not in a private space.
- Mental health problems and experiences affect everyone, but involvement in research does not always reflect this. Therefore, we are actively seeking applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic groups. We would especially like to hear from those who have experienced difficult life experiences (for example: seldom-heard groups, low-income backgrounds) and those who identify with being neurodivergent).
Payment will be offered at £25 an hour. This will be offered for both online and in-person meetings, workshops, focus groups and email tasks.
As we are planning occasional in person meetings, we are looking to recruit people who live close to the meeting venue in London. Reasonable travel and subsistence costs for occasional in-person meetings will be provided.
We also have a digital exclusion fund and can make reasonable adjustments if there are access needs.
If you are interested in applying, please download and complete the attached application form (using button below). Once complete please send to Alex Kenny [email protected] Senior Public Involvement in Research Officer at the McPin Foundation.
Alex can help you with your application if you have any accessibility needs. Please contact Alex at [email protected] if you have any questions.
The deadline is Friday 30th January 2026.
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
