Ian Maidment is a Professor in Clinical Pharmacy and joined Aston University in February 2012. Prior to this he worked in NHS Dementia / Mental Health services for 18 years; 8 years at a senior level. He has also worked within community pharmacy, the acute sector and led R&D in an NHS trust.
He has strong links with the NIHR both regionally and nationally. Currently, he is West Midlands Research Delivery Network joint specialty lead for community research. His research focus is medication optimisation in the real world particularly helping vulnerable populations get the best possible outcomes from medication. He was awarded his PhD on Medication-related adverse events in older people with dementia; causes and possible solutions.
One particular focus is using a realist approach in mental health, and Ian has recently led two such NIHR grants both in collaboration with the NHS.
i. RESOLVE is focused on the non-pharmacological management of anti-psychotic weight gain.
ii. MEDIATE is focused on Medication Optimisation in severe mental illness.
Ian has published over 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals, presented at numerous international conferences and led/is leading six NIHR grants in mental health, dementia, and the role of community pharmacy.
He has an H-index of 41 and his work is widely cited. His research has also received coverage in the lay media including the BBC, and internationally, Ian has developed links with the USA, Australia and many European countries. He was appointed NIHR Senior Investigator in 2025.
Ian is passionate about building research in primary care; the heart of the NHS. To support primary care research, we need to build the next generation of academics working in primary care.
Ian is an experienced mentor and supervisor both nationally and internationally. He has supervised ten MSc students as part of the world-leading Aston University Psychiatric Pharmacy Programme and five doctorates to completion. He currently supervises five PhDs. He is a fully trained NIHR mentor and has mentored researchers from numerous disciplines both in the UK and internationally.