About Dr Alexander Marsh

Dr Alexander Marsh is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist, who specialises in understanding brain structure and function, and their links with behaviour in a clinical context. He is a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Healthcare Professionals Council. Dr Marsh is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and holds professional membership with the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK. He is also a Full Member of the Royal Society of Biology. Alongside his private practice, Dr Marsh is the Lead Psychologist for the South Paediatric Neurosciences Operational Delivery Network in NHS England, is a Senior Clinical Academic leading on paediatric neuropsychology on the doctoral training programme at Cardiff University, and a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the Neurosciences Centre at Bristol Children's Hospital, where he is also operational lead for psychological research.  

Dr Marsh's undergraduate training was carried out at Aston University and he completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with Cardiff University, where his thesis focussed on understanding how structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging can support pre-operative cognitive evaluation in neurosurgery. He has undertaken additional post-graduate training (with distinction) in medical biosciences (with an emphasis in clinical neuroscience) at the University of Bath. Dr Marsh has also undertaken specialist training in paediatric neuropsychology at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London. 

Dr Marsh’s first clinical post was in the regional neurosciences centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, as an Honorary Assistant Psychologist, in 2011. Subsequently, he has worked at several neuroscience centres and services across the country including:

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• Tier 1 Regional Rehabilitation Service at the Colman Centre for Specialist Rehabilitation

• The Institute of Neurosciences at North Bristol NHS Trust, The Department of Paediatric Neuropsychology at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

• Department of Health Psychology at Aneurin Bevan UHB

• The Department of Paediatric Neuropsychology at The Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales.

Whilst in these posts, he has a number of notable achievements, including:

• Contributing to guidance and pathway development of a newly designated Major Trauma Centre

• Supported in the development of a new protocol for the assessment of Post-Traumatic Amnesia

• Sat on a regional working group for the development of a clinical pathway and guidance for the assessment and management of patients in Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness

• Sat on a regional working group for the development of a clinical pathway and guidance for the assessment and management of patients presenting with behaviours that challenge due to neurological injury

• Developed the Regional Paediatric Neuropsychology pathway for Young Persons with Epilepsy (AB UHB)

• Supported in the development of a national model of Paediatric Neuropsychology Provision within Wales

He has also held a number of academic positions, relating to teaching and researching psychology and neurosciences:

• Learning Development Associate, Aston University

• Research Associate, University of Exeter

• Honorary Teaching Associate, University of Bristol

• Research Psychologist, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

• Honorary Senior Teaching Associate, University of Bristol

• Visiting Lecturer, University of Bristol

During this time, he has supervised a number of post-graduate students and psychologists. He has worked on several clinical trials, including a trial examining the rehabilitation of childhood memory disorders and the use of the drug Tetrahydrobiopterin to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with Phenylketonuria. Dr Marsh currently is the trial coordinator for a national randomised control trial looking at a type of therapy for young people with a neurological genetic condition, called tuberous sclerosis complex. Dr Marsh has published peer-reviewed work on neuroimaging, neurocognitive tool development, interventions and treatment for neurocognitive disorders, and neurodegeneration. He has presented his work at regional, national and international conferences.

Dr Marsh is also active in various professional activities supporting the profession of Clinical Psychology. His work has covered:

• Member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Clinical Psychologists, UK as Director for Trainees

• Welsh National Representative for Trainees, Association of Clinical Psychologists, UK

• Founding member of the UK Training in Clinical Psychology Collaboration Group

• Member of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee, South Wales Doctor of Clinical Psychology Training Programme

• Founding member and Former Chair of the South Wales Clinical Training in Neuropsychology Group

• Member of the South Wales Doctor of Clinical Psychology – Neuropsychology Training Task and Finishing Group

• Member of the BPS Assistant Psychologist Practice Guidance Working Group

• Member of the Professional Standards Board within the British Psychological Society's Division of Neuropsychology

During this time he has founded a national trainee network, written a number of guidance documents for the training of clinical psychologists, and supported curriculum development for doctoral neuropsychology training.