Chris is a Neurology registrar, who joined the group in 2021 on an Academic Clinical Fellowship. Prior to this he undertook MB/PhD research with Prof Robin Franklin exploring the interaction between the microbiota, innate immune system and CNS remyelination (McMurran et al. 2019 PNAS PMID: 31740610).

 

His research focuses on brain ageing and the application of longevity medicine to the realm of neurological health and disease. He is interested in techniques to measure _biological age_ (using clinical blood biomarkers, DNA methylation signatures and brain MRI) to track the physiological changes that occur during ageing. He has produced work to show that a higher biological age relative to chronological age increases one's future risk of neurological disorders including stroke and dementia (McMurran et al. 2023 Brain PMID: 37490842; Mak & McMurran et al., 2023 JNNP PMID: 37926442).

 

In MS, there is evidence that - like in laboratory models - remyelination capacity declines with age (McMurran et al., 2022 ACTN PMID: 35587315), and this may play a role in subsequent neurodegeneration and progressive disability. Ongoing work seeks to unpick the relationship between remyelination and biological age, and if this could be a route to future therapies. Chris is a co-investigator on the CCMR Two trial, which tests metformin - a drug with promising gerotherapeutic properties - alongside clemastine to encourage remyelination in people with MS.

Trisha is an Academic Medical Fellow in neurology in Cambridge. She started her PhD with Dr Sarah Crisp and Alasdair in 2023, exploring the pathophysiology of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease.

Alasdair has worked in Cambridge since 1994, when he started his PhD with Alastair Compston. Professor of Clinical Neuroimmunology since 2014. Originally he worked on alemtuzumab, and now is focused on remyelinating therapies.

Jonathon joined the group in November 2022, embarking upon a 3-year Action Medical Research and British Paediatric Neurology Association Research Training Fellowship. His research is investigating remyelination in paediatric onset multiple sclerosis, and he is leading a clinical study (MARMALADE) in which measures of remyelination and axonal health are brought to the routine clinical care of children affected by MS. He has a broad skillset across both visual and imaging measures of remyelination.