Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences

New funding boosts Oxford research into inflammatory neuropathies To mark Rare Disease Day on 28 February, we’re highlighting the research of Professor Simon Rinaldi and Dr Nicolas Dubuisson, and celebrating a major new $600,000 grant to progress their fight against...

For #MNNAwarenessMonth and ahead of #RareDiseaseDay tomorrow, we're highlighting the work of Professor Simon Rinaldi and Dr Nicolas Dubuisson, who are researching inflammatory neuropathies.

Read more: www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/news/new-fun...

Studentship: INTERVENTIONAL GENETICS AND ROBOTICS FOR RETINAL DISEASE GROUP Apply by 3 March

🔊 STUDENTSHIP: Interventional Genetics and Robotics for Retinal Disease Group

The aim of this project is to answer several fundamental questions related to our understanding of molecular and cellular basis of retinal degeneration.

Apply by 3 March: buff.ly/oJVVMOd

YouTube video by Oxford BRC Can electrodes in the brain treat chronic pain ? Prof. Ben Seymour and Prof. Alex Green.

🔎 Can electrodes in the brain treat chronic #pain?

Watch this recording of our recent public talk by leading Professors in Neurology at the University of Oxford on the use of Deep Brain Stimulation for chronic pain.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eifM...

Level Up Conference & Tech Expo Get ready for a conference of fast-paced TEDx-style talks delivered by internationally recognized scientists and experts. "Enriching Longevity Through Brain Health" shares actionable brain health…

🔊 EVENT: Level Up: Enriching Longevity Through Brain Health

Professor Russell Foster is among other experts giving insights on practical, science-backed ways to upskill your brain.

The conference is Wednesday, Feb 25 at @Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, Texas.

Register now:

Other than Oxford Photography Exhibition Celebrating diversity within the Oxford University community 3.30-7pm, Thursday 26 February, Fusion Arts, Oxford, 15 Park End Street Refreshements Provided Supported by the van Houten fund

📢 EVENT: Other than Oxford

Photography Exhibition celebrating diversity within the Oxford University community.

3.30-7pm, Thursday 26 February, Fusion Arts, Oxford, 15 Park End Street

NDCN professors amongst first Group Leaders announced for new dedicated Parkinson's Research Centre Professors Laura Parkkinen and Peter Magill have been appointed to UK DRI Group Leader roles.

📢 We are pleased to announce that two of our Professors, Laura Parkkinen and Peter Magill, have been appointed as Group Leaders for a new dedicated Parkinson's Research Centre.

Read more: tinyurl.com/4vrtrdjb

Drugs identified that could help prevent delirium after surgery A new study has found that several commonly used drugs could significantly reduce the risk of delirium in older people following surgery.

The study analysed 158 clinical trials involving more than 41,000 participants aged 60 and over. They found that dexmedetomidine, a painkiller and sedative that also reduces inflammation, prevented delirium in almost every type of surgery.

Read more: tinyurl.com/59e886ak

A syringe being filled from a vial by a heathcare professional.

📢 A new study has found that several commonly used drugs could significantly reduce the risk of delirium in older people following surgery.

Delirium – a sudden state of confusion and memory problems – affects around one in seven older adults after an operation.

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Advances Discovery of Therapies for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) Esther Becker and Andrea Németh have both received awards of £100,000.

FA is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative multisystem rare disease for which there is currently no cure.

The funding was awarded by the FA Alliance Innovation Fund and was announced by the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre.

Read more: tinyurl.com/3frpdhfm

Esther Becker and Andrea Nemeth

Many congratulations to Professors Esther Becker and Andrea Németh who have both been awarded £100,000 and specialist support to advance pioneering research projects exploring novel approaches to discover treatments for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA).

Students at an Oxford College dining hall

🔊 CLOSING SOON: UNIQplus 2026

UNIQplus is the University’s flagship graduate access programme, which supports UK-resident students and graduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds to explore postgraduate study.

Deadline: 12 midday, Wednesday, 18 February
Apply: buff.ly/G46gZqF

Drugs identified that could help prevent delirium after surgery | NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

A study has found that several commonly used drugs could significantly reduce the risk of #delirium in older people following surgery oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/drugs-identi... @ndcnoxford.bsky.social @ndorms.bsky.social @ouhospitals.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk

Job Vacancy: Course Tutor in Pain Neurosciences Apply by 12 midday, Tuesday 3 March

JOB VACANCY: Course tutor in pain neurosciences

This is an exciting opportunity support the delivery of the new University of Oxford MSc Programme in Pain Neurosciences.

Apply by 3 March: buff.ly/H5LZsV7

Job Vacancy: Oxford Brain Bank Governance Manager Apply by 12.00 midday Tuesday 3 March

🔊 JOB VACANCY: Oxford Brain Bank Governance Manager

The successful candidate will be responsible for the governance of the tissue bank as well as for overseeing the processes of sample and data collection, storage and distribution for research.

Apply by 3 March: buff.ly/gYWqkn9

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: In conversation with Safiyah Mohamed To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, we interviewed several of our DPhil in Cancer Science students and alumnae to discuss what motivated them to pursue careers in cancer…

Read it now: tinyurl.com/yckcd5t3

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: In conversation with Safiyah Mohamed To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, we interviewed several of our DPhil in Cancer Science students and alumnae to discuss what motivated them to pursue careers in cancer…

'Seeing how cancer treatments and outcomes have evolved over time inspired me to contribute, in my own way, to research that could help drive further progress.'
In this article for #WomenInScienceDay by Oxford Cancer, DPhil student Safiyah Mohamed explains why she's chosen to research Cancer Science

🌟 Caitlin Gardner won our Sir Roger Bannister Prize Winner 2024/25, which rewards undergraduate medical students who excel in the study of neuroscience.

🌟 Claire Bergstrom Johnson was awarded the 2025 Benson Research Fellowship by the GBS|CIDP Foundation International.

🌟Laurel Morris was conferred the title of Associate Professor.

🌟Chrystalina Antoniades was conferred the title of Professor.

🌟 Professor Esther Becker has been awarded the 2025 Rare Disease Scholar Award, which advances promising discoveries from academic labs into clinical practice.

🌟 Betina Ip was part of the shortlisting panel for the 2025 Royal Society Young People's Book Prize.

Esther Becker, Betina Ip, Laurel Morris, Chrystalina Antoniades, Caitlin Gardner, Claire Bergstom-Johnson

Today we're celebrating Today we're celebrating women at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences for hashtag#WomenInScienceDay. Here's just a selection of recent achievements:

#WomenInScienceDay #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience

Epilepsy and the brain Experts at Oxford are looking at how epilepsy can be prevented, diagnosed and treated, as well as promoting awareness of the condition to reduce stigma and improve quality of life for people with epil...

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting roughly 50 million people around the world.

Researchers at Oxford are looking at how epilepsy can be prevented, diagnosed and treated ⬇️

#InternationalEpilepsyDay

Studentships Neuroimmunology Apply b 2 March

🔊 STUDENTSHIPS IN NEUROIMMUNOLOGY

Two studentships are available in neuroimmunology, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Apply by 2 March: tinyurl.com/24dedpu2

Motor neurone disease: what does the science say? Understanding MND...

🎧NEW PODCAST: Our Head of Department, Professor Kevin Talbot, has taken part in a The Naked Scientist podcast on Motor Neurone Disease (MND) 👇
tinyurl.com/mtbcahyr

Congenital myasthenic syndrome: is it time for a name change to genetic myasthenic syndrome? Ramdas et al. propose renaming ‘congenital myasthenic syndrome’ as ‘genetic myasthenic syndrome’. They argue that ‘congenital’ misleadingly implies neonata

#WIMMReads 🧪

#MRCWIMM Group Leader Yin Dong is among clinicians and scientists with expertise in congenital #MyasthenicSyndrome suggesting it may be time to update the disease name to reduce misdiagnosis and improve care.
#Neurology #RareDisease

@ndcnoxford.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk

Studentship: Pain Rhythms Apply by 2 March

🔊 STUDENTSHIP IN PAIN RHYTHMS

This studentship will combine multidisciplinary approaches to understand the role of biological rhythms in pain using mouse spinal cord slices and advanced in vitro human pain models.

Apply by 2 March: tinyurl.com/24dedpu2

@britishpainsoc.bsky.social

MSc in Pain Neurosciences | University of Oxford About the courseThe MSc in Pain Neurosciences explores pain mechanisms from molecules to brain systems, providing students with the multidisciplinary skills and advanced knowledge essential for

Applications for the new MSc in Pain Neurosciences starting in October 2026 are currently open. Apply here: bit.ly/4h53b5x. Up to a week's notice of closure to admissions will be provided on our course webpage.

UNIQplus | University of Oxford UNIQplus is aimed at talented undergraduates from under-represented groups, who would find continuing into postgraduate study a challenge for reasons other than their academic ability. This section

For 2026, applicants can choose between a seven-week, in-person paid research internship in Oxford, or an online programme offering academic skills development, mentoring and application support.

📆 Applications close 18 February
👉 Apply now: buff.ly/G46gZqF

Man working at his laptop

Applications for UNIQplus 2026, the University’s flagship graduate access programme, are now open. UNIQplus supports UK-resident students and graduates from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds to explore postgraduate study.

NDORMS and NDCN collaborate with Oxford University Hospitals to form the Kadoorie Institute for Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care at Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), along with the Critical Care Research Team at Nuffield Department of Clinic...

🗞️Read more here: www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/news/ndorms-...

@ndorms.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @ndcnoxford.bsky.social