Meet The Team
Meet The Team
Remyelination (Cunniffe Group)
Group Lead
Dr Nick Cunniffe
Clinical Lecturer in Neurology at the University of Cambridge, and Neurologist specialising in multiple sclerosis, other neuroimmunological conditions and neuro-ophthalmology.
Nick leads the Cambridge Clinical Remyelination Research group. He worked extensively on the CCMR-One trial with Will Brown and Alasdair Coles [Brown, Cunniffe et al Lancet Neurology. 2021] and is now the chief investigator for the CCMR-Two trial of metformin and clemastine in people with MS [NCT05131828]. He additionally ran studies that showed the age-dependence [McMurran and Cunnffe, ACTN 2023] and potential for long-term benefits from treatment with a remyelination-promoting drug [McMurran and Cunnffe, MSJ 2024].
He has a specialist interest in neuro-ophthalmology and, working in the Cambridge Clinical Vision Laboratory, he researches the use of visual evoked potentials and tests of eye movements to measure the effects of remyelinating and neuroprotective therapies in MS [Riboni-Verri and Cunniffe, BMJ neurology open 2024]. Alongside his trial work, he is also seeking to understand how remyelination capacity varies in different people with MS, and is leading a study that tests remyelination (using MRI, tests of vision, and blood tests) as part of routine clinical care.
Outside of the lab, Nick is committed to medical education: he supervises neuroscience to medical students at Gonville and Caius College and is author of a neuroscience textbook.
Ph.D. Candidate
Gioia Riboni-Verri
Gioia joined the group in October 2021, funded by the MRC DTP partnership to pursue a PhD on the topic of endogenous and therapeutic remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She is particularly interested in identifying reliable tools and measures of remyelination that can be feasibly introduced in clinical practice. She is greatly involved in CCMR Two, carrying out visual assessments on participants. She is also leading on the ARMOUR-MS study, in which assessments of remyelination are brought to routine clinical practice. Gioia has a strong background in translational biomedical research, and has worked in industry for a couple of years.
Senior Ophthalmic Technician
Riddhima Gautam
Riddhima is a highly skilled optometrist who works with the group on all of their clinical studies. Given that MS researchers are increasingly reliant on leveraging assessments of the visual system to precisely capture repair of the nervous system, her experience in the Cambridge Clinical Vision Laboratory has been instrumental to the successes of the group since she joined in summer 2023. She conducts a host of assessments on our research participants including visual electrophysiology, optical coherence tomography, low contrast acuity testing, and infrared oculometry.
Clinical Trial Coordinator, Neuroscience Theme
Laura Oakley
Laura has been working within neuroscience research since 2014. Passionate about improving treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, since 2019 she has worked exclusively on clinical trials. She was previously based in the United States, working at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, but returned to the UK in January 2021 to join the Cambridge team. Currently, her main role is as the coordinator of the CCMR-Two remyelination trial, where she oversees the running of the trial and ensures it runs to plan! She is also supporting the development of future repair trials within the MS group, and in the wider neuroscience community.
Clinical MS Research Nurse
Alanna Beasley
Alanna Beasley is an experienced paediatric nurse with a diverse background ranging from neonates to genetics, to research. She has recently joined the Cambridge Clinical MS Research group and is excited to contribute to the ongoing research efforts to improve the lives of individuals affected by multiple sclerosis.
Head of Cambridge Clinical Multiple Sclerosis Research
Professor Alasdair Coles
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.
Ph.D. Candidate & Senior Paediatric Neurology Registrar
Dr Jonathon Holland
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.
Academic Medical Fellow & Ph.D. Candidate
Dr Trisha Mukherjee
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.
Clinical Research Manager
Toni Bray
Toni Bray has worked in lab support and management roles across oncology, cardiovascular, and regenerative biology research in Cambridge since 2012.
Recently completing a BSc in Natural Science while raising two children, she now supports the Personalised Treatment and Remyelination projects at the Cambridge Clinical MS Research group, contributing her practical and administrative experience to research in multiple sclerosis.
Publications
Click the paper titles below to view the key publications to which members of the Cunniffe Group have contributed.