On Thursday, 26 February 2026 the R4N Network formally presented our co-produced Strategic Roadmap, which identifies national barriers and priorities for the use of neurotechnologies in early identification, monitoring, and support for neurodivergent children and young people.

This Strategic Roadmap is designed to outline pathways for responsible innovation, inform future policy, NHS planning, and research investment at a time of rapidly rising demand for neurodevelopmental (including autism, ADHD) and mental health services.

The afternoon featured brief presentations, a high-level panel discussion, and opportunities for dialogue with researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, policy stakeholders, and lived-experience representatives.  Video recordings are accessible to members below and broken up into event sessions. Enjoy listening to what was a very vibrant, stimulating and celebratory event.

Please see below recordings for each section of the event.

An introduction and warm welcome from Professor Eva Loth

Introduction to the RESPECT4Neurodevelopment (R4N) network
and the Strategic Roadmap Vision
Prof Eva Loth Cognitive Neuroscience, King’s College London (KCL)

Keynote:

Ethical approaches to neuroimaging: An engineer’s perspective

Prof Clare Elwell Medical Physics, University College London (UCL)

Strategic Roadmap I: State of the art and barriers to progress

Speakers:
Prof Emily Jones Developmental Translational Neuroscience, KCL
Prof Ilias Tachtsidis Biomedical Engineering, UCL

This session brings together the collective learnings of the R4N network to map
the current frontier. We will synthesise what is known about neurodivergent
and neurotypical brain development, explore currently used and emerging
neurotechnologies, and discuss the critical barriers to responsible progress
– from trust and legitimacy to technical and system readiness for adoption
in health, education and other settings. The focus is not only on where we
are, but what must change to deliver meaningful, real-world impact for
neurodivergent children.

Insights into inclusive research practices: Co-producing sensory research

Speakers:
Dr Nicolaas Puts Sensory Function, KCL
Dr Mary Doherty Autistic Consultant Anaesthetist, Founder of Autistic
Doctors International

This session uses the R4N-funded SENSE Project as an example to examine
key ingredients for co-production, from shared decision-making and
priority-setting to embedding neurodivergent perspectives across the
full research process.

Strategic Roadmap II: Building a transdisciplinary framework for the future:
Near-, mid- and long-term recommendations

This panel will explore recommendations for building a transdisciplinary
workforce to translate promising neurotechnologies into personalised care
for neurodivergent children. We will discuss near-term actions and mid-term
system requirements to advance the longer-term vision to transform how
society understands and supports neurodivergent children within an inclusive
neurotechnology ecosystem.

Panelists:
Prof Tomoki Arichi Perinatal Neuroscience, KCL
Prof Matthew Goodwin Public Health, Northeastern University
Pierre Violland Autistic Peers Support Specialist
Prof Paul Appelbaum Legal and Ethical Issues in Medicine, Columbia University
Kate Reading EPSRC
Harald Neerland Autism-Europe