Researchers:
Dr Saif Huda
Consultant Neurologist
Dr Saif Huda completed undergraduate medical training in Liverpool in 2005 and completed neurology specialist training at The Walton Centre in 2017. Between 2012-2015 he undertook a DPhil in neuroimmunology at The University of Oxford before completing a post-CCT fellowship in neuromyelitis optica in 2018.
Dr Huda is the clinical lead for the UK NMOSD highly specialised service. His research focuses on immune tolerance mechanisms and biomarkers in NMOSD and MOG-antibody associated disease, particularly clinical and serological biomarkers that help predict relapse risk and prognosis. He is also interested in immune tolerance mechanisms and identifying novel symptomatic therapies that can improve patient quality of life. Dr Huda is a principal investigator for several Phase III clinical trials in NMOSD, MOGAD, and autoimmune encephalitis.
Dr Mark Ellul
NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Neurology
Dr Ellul is a Clinical Lecturer (NIHR) in Neurology and a Specialist Registrar in Neurology at the Walton Centre in Liverpool. He works on autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system and central nervous system infections. In particular, Dr Ellul focuses on improving the diagnosis of encephalitis, a devastating neurological condition characterised by inflammation of the brain.
Encephalitis is most often caused by either a viral infection of the brain (viral encephalitis), or the bodies own immune defences attacking the brain (autoimmune encephalitis). My work focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which viruses and the immune system can damage the brain, identifying targets for future therapies to improve patient outcome.
Dr Yun Huang
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow
There is emerging evidence of links between COVID-19 infections and immune-related brain and nerve injuries. These conditions include inflammation and demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous system. They can have significant impact on patient’s quality of life; however, we have little understanding of the biological processes underlying these conditions.
Dr Huang's project focuses on characterising the group of patients who developed immune-related brain and nerve injuries related to COVID-19. She aims to identify clinical risk factors to developing these immune-related complications. She will also be analysing blood samples to identify possible biomarkers as well as mechanisms of immune dysregulation. Dr Huang hopes this research will benefit patients in a wide range of viral infection induced immune complications and identifying novel treatments that improve patient outcome in the long-term.
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