Professor Sarosh R Irani

Sarosh R Irani BMBCh MA (Oxon) DPhil FRCP FEAN

Overall aim. I am a Physician-Scientist with an actively translational research group that aims to improve outcomes for patients with autoimmune neurological diseases by understanding causation and biology underlying this rapidly expanding set of conditions.

Personal background. I led the discovery of antibodies against LGI1 and CASPR2 and described the associated clinical phenotypes and studied autoreactive B cells in patients with encephalitis thanks to funding support from Wellcome, the UK Medical Research Council, and the amazing generosity of our patients. My group now studies both autoantibody-specificities and properties of B cells from blood, lymph nodes and spinal fluid of patients with autoimmune neurological diseases.

I have supervised >50 international clinicians and scientists, including 8 students to completed PhDs and five fellows to independent funding.

I was awarded the Graham-Bull Prize in Clinical Science / Goulstonian Lectureship, from the Royal College of Physicians, and awards including the NIHR BRC Senior Clinical Fellowship, International Society of Neuroimmunology Clinical Science Prize and both Wellcome Intermediate and MRC Senior Clinical Fellowships. In addition, I have been made Professor of Autoimmune Neurology at the University of Oxford and Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the University of Southern Denmark

Latest

WEDA Conference - Empowering Hope

A three-day World Encephalitis Day event in Jacksonville, Florida, in February 2024. Brought to you by The World Encephalitis Day Alliance
Baroness Fiona Twycross

Baroness (Fiona) Twycross was appointed to the House of Lords in November 2022. She is Education Spokesperson in the Lords and a Labour Whip.
Predictors and psychological outcomes associated with perceived boundary ambiguity in families affected by acute, non-progressive neurological conditions
CIELO study

Dr Stephen Ray

Clinical Lecturer, Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Oxford
Dr Greta Wood

NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow - Infectious Diseases, Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Infection, University of Liverpool, UK
Assoc Prof Maarten Titulaer

Co-director Academic Center for Neuro-inflammatory Disorders, Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Professor Frank Leypoldt

Neuroimmunology, Inst. of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Neurology Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Assist Prof Kiran Thakur

Winifred Mercer Pitkin, MD Assistant Professor of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA
Professor Carsten Finke

Heisenberg Professor for Cognitive Neurology, Charité Berlin, Dept. of Neurology & Berlin School of Mind and Brain at Humboldt Universität
Dr James Sejvar

Neuroepidemiologist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr Matteo Gastaldi

Neurologist, Neuroimmunology Research Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
Dr Lance Turtle

Wellcome Fellow, Reader, Honorary Consultant, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool and Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Assist Prof Omar Siddiqi

Director Global Neurology Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Visiting Lecturer, University of Zambia School of Medicine

NMDAR antibody encephalitis

NMDAR antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune disease that causes psychiatric features, confusion, memory loss and seizures followed by a movement disorder, loss of consciousness and changes in blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.
Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis

Herpes simplex encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis which happens when herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the brain. Usually, it begins with ‘flu-like’ symptoms followed by neurological deterioration, which may include personality and behavioural changes, seizures, weakness and difficulties in communication.
What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by an infection or through the immune system attacking the brain in error.
Guidelines for recovery

No two people with encephalitis have the same outcomes. People recover at different paces. Recovery can be helped by having lots of rest, good nutrition, helpful social network and support from professionals.
Limbic encephalitis

The term ‘limbic encephalitis’ (LE) describes the condition when limbic areas of the brain are inflamed (swollen) and consequently not functioning properly. Most forms of LE fall into two main categories: infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.
Death from encephalitis

Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition and unfortunately, despite improvements in specific and more supportive treatments such as excellent intensive care management, encephalitis still has a high mortality (death) rate.
Encephalitis: after-effects, recovery and rehabilitation

This booklet provides key information about the type of issues that people may have after encephalitis, why rehabilitation/support from professionals and families are important and what options for self-help are available.
West Nile encephalitis

West Nile encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. People usually become infected after being bitten by a mosquito, which has fed on an infected bird.
Emotional and behavioural changes

Following encephalitis, some people may experience emotional and behavioural changes including low mood, increased anxiety, depression, mood swings, frustration, aggression, impulsivity, disinhibition, and/or poor emotional regulation.
Get support

Our Support Service is here to help you with any questions about encephalitis, recovery and rehabilitation or emotional support.