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Reimagine Lab - Translational Clinical Psychology

  • Anxiety
  • Autism Spectrum
  • Childhood & Adolescence (3-18 years)
  • Clinical Practice
  • Clinical Psychology, Mental Health & Wellbeing
  • Early Life Stress & Trauma
  • Memory

Founded in 2024

Dr Alex Lau-Zhu

Trauma, Youth Mental Health and Cognitive Processes

What makes certain vivid memories or future imaginings so powerful?

How do they drive our emotion and distress, including in trauma and anxiety?

Can we reshape mental images to better support mental health, particularly in youth exposed to adversities?

Our translational research focuses on youth trauma and cognitive processes driving mental health, and combines experimental, clinical and developmental perspectives for transdiagnostic innovations. 

We are curious about the cognitive mechanisms, in particular emotional imagery, a key yet underexplored process in youth (ages 13-24). We seek to span the full translational pathway, from discovery to applied research. Our dual aim is to drive scalable, mechanistically driven interventions while advancing theoretical insights.

Alongside the imagery focus, some projects extend to other modifiable processes. We seek opportunities to translate our work for multiple intervention contexts, such as clinical/NHS, schools, community settings, and war-affected contexts. We also actively consider the interface with neurodiversity.

Current research areas include:

(1) Youth trauma and autobiographical memory, particularly flashbacks

(2) Imagery processes in anxiety (e.g. flashforwards)

(3) Trauma and emotional imagery in neurodiversity (autism/ADHD)

A wide range of methodologies is harnessed, including experimental psychopathology, cognitive paradigms, systematic reviews, qualitative research, intervention designs, longitudinal approaches and experience sampling. We strive to work closely with young people and other stakeholders, so that our research remains grounded in lived experience and real-world relevance alongside conceptual rigour.

Our research has been supported by leading funders and charities, including the Medical Research Council, Oxford University Press John Fell Funds, National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centers (Imperial and Oxford Health), Economic and Social Research Council, Oxford Hospital Charities, NHS Health Education England, Cambridge International Trust, China Oxford Scholarship Fund, and philanthropic funding for autism research.

Our team

Selected publications