Pioneering neurologist and UCL Professor commemorated with a blue plaque

James Samuel Risien Russell, one of Britain's first black British consultants, a pioneering neurologist and Professor of Medicine at UCL, has been commemorated with an English Heritage London blue plaque. Born in British Guiana (now Guyana), Dr Risien Russell was one of the UK's first black or mixed-race consultants and in the early 1900s was regarded as one of the country's most important figures in the medical profession. His plaque will be displayed at 44 Wimpole Street - the house which he both lived in and used as a private practice from 1902 until his death in March 1939. Professor Michael Hanna, Consultant Neurologist and Director of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology said "I am delighted to see that the life and work of one of Queen Square's greatest neurologists is being commemorated in this way. "It is without doubt that as one of the UKs first BAME consultant Neurologists he had to deal with many prejudices and biases which makes his achievements all the more impressive. He made many important observations and discoveries leading to improved understanding of neurological diseases such as subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord due to vitamin B12 deficiency. "His work on the interface between neurological diseases and mental health disorders was truly ahead of its time and some of his concepts and approaches are still highly relevant today.