Neuroscientist awarded NIHR Research Professorship

Leading UCL neuroscientist Professor Olga Ciccarelli has been awarded a Research Professorship, the highest honour granted by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). Professor Ciccarelli (UCL Institute of Neurology) is one of just seven UK-based scientists, who successfully applied for a Research Professorship in 2018, and will receive up to £2 million from NIHR. This is the sixth year in succession a UCL academic has been awarded this honour. The Research Professorship aims to facilitate strong research leadership and to develop the capacity for research in areas critical to accelerating the transfer of research ideas to deliver better health. Professor Ciccarelli's grant will be used to develop a computer tool, which will enable doctors to more accurately predict, which medicines individuals with multiple sclerosis will respond better too. "There are many licensed drugs that reduce the risk of relapses in multiple sclerosis, but doctors cannot predict which of these will work best for an individual," Professor Ciccarelli said. "The decision about which drug to give to a patient is based on personal preference.