James Rubin

James Rubin

Dr, Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4440-0570
  • Phone85684
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Biographical details

Professor James Rubin is a Professor of Psychology and Emerging Health Risks at King's College London, specialising in emerging health risks, symptom attribution and nocebo effects. He is an internationally recognised expert on why individuals and groups come to attribute physical symptoms to new or controversial medical interventions, environmental exposures or technologies, and on the implications of these attributions for health, behaviour and service use. 

His work is particularly relevant in areas where questions arise around causation, plausibility and the role of psychological factors in symptom attribution and behaviour, and he is regularly called on to advise on these issues for government agencies and in group litigation.  

Professor Rubin's research spans two overlapping areas. The first examines public and individual responses to sudden exposures to potentially hazardous agents, including infections, chemicals and radiation. This includes work carried out through the NIHR Health Protection Research Focus Award on Outbreak Related Behaviour, for which he is the Director. 

The second area focuses on psychological and social mechanisms underlying symptom development after perceived exposure, including nocebo effects and attribution processes. He has published extensively on symptom reporting and help-seeking in relation to: 

  • Mobile phone signals, wifi and other radiofrequency exposures; 
  • Industrial and household chemicals; 
  • Wind turbines; 
  • Vaccination; 
  • Infectious disease outbreaks (including swine flu and COVID-19); 
  • Mass psychogenic illness. 

Because of this expertise, Professor Rubin has been invited to advise UK, EU and World Health Organization bodies on the assessment and management of newly identified or controversial health risks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a core participant of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), and he set-up and co-chaired SAGE's behavioural science subgroup. Professor Rubin has also acted as an expert witness in several high-profile group litigation cases in England and internationally, providing independent expert reports on symptom attribution, nocebo effects, and help-seeking. 

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, King's College London

Award Date: 1 Jan 2003

Master of Science, University of Exeter

Award Date: 1 Jan 1999

Bachelor of Science, University of Bristol

Award Date: 1 Jan 1998

External positions

Honorary Non-Medical Consultant, PHE Public Health England

2008 → …

Keywords

  • BF Psychology
  • RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  5. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  6. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  7. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  8. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  9. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  10. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  11. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  12. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  13. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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