Dr Laura Bunting: remembering our inspirational colleague

Posted March 16th 2026

We remember Dr Laura Bunting, a dear friend and colleague whose impact leaves a lasting legacy at the National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University and beyond.

Laura’s contribution to the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) and wider research landscape across the globe was exceptional.

During her time as Centre Manager for both the Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit (2015-2017) and NCMH (2018 – 2020), she was a pivotal figure whose leadership, clarity of vision and deep commitment to research excellence helped shape the centre’s direction and strengthen its foundations.

Professor Ian Jones, former director of NCMH, said:

“As the previous Director of NCMH, I was privileged to work closely with Laura in her time as Centre Manager.  Laura was brilliant and hardworking, but what set her apart was a deep understanding of people and a genuine desire to see them do well.

“This was clear both for those with lived experience of mental illness who participated in our research and for those who worked in our team. She was an outstanding colleague but more than that she was a great friend. She was an outstanding human being whose memory will burn brightly in all who knew her.”

Professor Jon Bisson, director of NCMH, said:

“Laura was a wonderful and very talented person who will be greatly missed.  I am very grateful for everything she did for NCMH and for contributing so much to the strong platform we are now building on.”

Prof William Gray, director of the Advanced Neurotherapies Centre (formerly the BRAIN Unit), said:

“Laura was an inspiring individual who was pivotal to the success of the BRAIN Unit from its instigation through to its evolution into the Advanced Neurotherapies Centre. She had a razor-sharp intellect and always managed to find a way through process and protocol to get the good stuff done.

“Most of all she was a wonderful human being whose kindness, empathy and generosity of character touched us all.  We will always remember her and that dazzling smile.”

Laura played a significant role in the development of NCMH’s public and patient involvement group, known as Partnership in Research (PÂR).

Amanda, a current PÂR member, said:

“Laura was so instrumental in the birth and growth of PÂR. My main memory of her is coming to the door to let me into the building after my cigarette breaks – and always with that lovely smile. Her passion, commitment and warmth will be much missed.”

More broadly, Laura is remembered as an exceptional PhD student at Cardiff University, whose work contributed to improving fertility care for women worldwide.

Professor Jacky Boivin, director of the Women’s Health Research Wales Centre, said:

“Laura was one of my first PhD students. She was an exceptional student and her research contributed to major paradigm shifts in the field of reproductive medicine, helping women globally to reduce their risk of infertility, and when infertile to have better access to quality fertility care. Her work also inspired the call that funded the first Women’s Health Research Wales Centre. I will always remember Laura with much fondness and appreciation.”

Professor James Walters, director of the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University, said:

“I shared a cramped, 10th floor office at Cardiff University with Laura during our PhDs and she made that time of my life a pure joy! I was overjoyed to work with Laura again when she worked as the BRAIN Unit and then NCMH Manager.

“Throughout our working time together, Laura was kind, made time for people, was dedicated to her work… and our wider work continues to benefit from the systems she introduced in Cardiff University and Welsh Government.

“Above all, Laura’s spirit, warmth and unremitting ‘get it done’ attitude will endure and continues to inspire us. Thank you, Laura.”

She is also remembered for her work with Welsh Government (2019-2026) as Research Infrastructure and Experimental Medicine Lead at Health and Care Research Wales.

Helen Richards, manager of the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University, said:

“Laura was an absolutely beautiful person, inside and out. She was incredibly bright, witty, self‐effacing and determined, but above all else she was kind.

“After leaving Cardiff University, I was delighted to continue working with Laura in her new role at Health and Care Research Wales, which she approached with the same flair, competence and wholehearted commitment that defined everything she did.

“Laura’s sense of fairness and social justice permeated everything she touched. She had an instinctive understanding of what was right, and she championed it quietly but powerfully. I am proud to have been her friend.”

We give our sincere condolences to Laura’s family – she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Please visit Dr Laura Bunting’s Kudoboard to add any well wishes.