Dheeraj Rai is a Professor of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry at the University of Bristol Medical School and an honorary consultant psychiatrist at the Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Mental Health Trust. His research focuses on large epidemiological and
interventional studies for mental health problems in autistic people. He is interested in improving methods of carrying out effective research with neurodivergent populations. 
He leads a group of interdisciplinary researchers, with a focus on carrying out research which has the potential to help improve the health and lives of autistic people and people with other developmental conditions. He passionately believes in involving autistic people and
other stakeholders in research.