Dr. Maria Gudbrandsen received her PhD in Clinical Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London (KCL), where she also worked as a researcher from 2010 to 2021. She is now a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, University of Roehampton. Dr. Gudbrandsen has extensive expertise in neurodiversity and special educational needs. Her research primarily focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic deletions/duplications, with a particular emphasis on mental health and well-being in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). She is dedicated to raising awareness of 22q11.2DS and has significantly contributed to the field in the UK.