Brain Response Lab

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About Us

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Our group’s aim is to improve diagnosis, treatment and management of infection, with a focus on brain infections in children and adults in the UK and world-wide.

Our research interests centre on the host responses to severe infection and inflammation, particularly neurological insults, with a key focus on identifying diagnostic and prognostic markers to assist patient management.

In addition, we aim to better understand the role of host and pathogen responses in determining the outcome of brain infections and inflammation.

We use transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to explore these responses, primarily in patient populations but also cell models.

You can get further information from our University of Liverpool websites (below):

Prof Michael Griffiths University of Liverpool

Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences

Liverpool Brain Infections Group

Team

Mike Griffiths

PI and Paediatric Neurology Consultant

Background: Mike is the group PI. He is a Professor in Paediatric Neurosciences at IVES, UoL and Honorary Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust. He clinically trained at Nottingham, Cardiff, Newcastle and Liverpool. His PhD was at Oxford University and KEMRI, Kilifi, Kenya. His post-doctoral training was at Stanford University. Random Fact: Mike would love to play rugby for Wales. His best dance moves were at Kilifi Members Bar after a few Tuskers

Lorna Finch

Post Doctoral Research Associate

Background: Lorna trained as a Biomedical scientist. Dr Finchs' 10 year research activity has spanned across academic institutions, the NHS and the UK Civil Service leading clinical evaluation trials and In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) development towards infectious diseases, rare human diseases and host-pathogen responses. Dr Finch has additionally been seconded to outbreak response scientist roles during the 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Role: Lorna works mainly on DIME and TRIM, as well as, supporting Blink-DX, NMO-Inflammation, CHASE, TREAT-ED, POMS studies. She is based between IVES and MedtechtoMarket as part of the TRIM study.

Daisy Bengey

Research Assistant

George Sikaksis

Research Assistant

Geraint Sunderland

PhD student and neurosurgical registrar, lead for TRAPNGS study

Charlotte Fuller

MD student and Paediatric Infectious Disease trainee

Charlotte is studying outcomes of febrile encephalopthy and supporting the CHASE study

Emily Gibbons

MD student and Neurology Registrar, supporting NMO inflammation study

Ben Hall

MD student and Neurosurgery Trainee, supporting TREAT-ED study

Tina Damodar

Wellcome Trust DBT Clinical Fellow and Microbiology Trainee, India

Tina is working with our lab to examine the human host transcript response to Scrub thyphus infection among Indian child patients. Scrub Thyphus is a disease caused by a bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is one of the commonest presentations of febrile encephalopathy among children in India. Accuracy of diagnostics for Scrub can be variable. Tina is also assessing the value of serological and pathogen specific-PCR in CSF and blood to diagnose scrub as part of her Wellcome fellowship. The transcript work has been supported by an Encephalitis Society grant to Tina.

Aifa Bardatin (Lutfi)

LPDP Fellow, PhD student and Neurology Trainee, Indonesia, local lead for DIME

Stephen Ray (right)

Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellow, PhD student, Paed. Infect. Disease Trainee, lead for CHASE

Ongoing Projects

TRanscripts to Identify Meningitis - TRIM study

Impact of advanced pathogen testing on DIagnosis of Meningo-Encephalitis (DIME study) among Indonesian patients.

Developing digital droplet PCR for pathogen testing of suspected meningitis for LMI settings

TRaumatic Encephalopathy Assessment Tool development in the Emergency Department TREAT-ED study

See more

Further Information

Publications

Funding

Professional Activities

ZIKA OUTREACH workshops 

ZIKA OUTREACH workshops  thumbnail
 
Katie travelled from Liverpool to Brazil to undertake a series of focus group discussions  with families on the impact of our University of Liverpool / Saude Crianca (Brazillian NGO) outreach workshops for children suffering congenital Zika virus infection.  The results from the discussions informed further development of the workshops . Pleasingly, familes also gave us feedback that they really valued the sessions, for their education, support, relaxation and practical advice.

OutREACH PHYSIOTHERAPY

OutREACH PHYSIOTHERAPY thumbnail
 
Physiotherapy for children and families in Brazil. Outreach phsiotherapy sessions are  another example of the series of events / workshops we organised with Saude Crinca and UMA (Non-Government Orgnisatioins [NGOs] in Brazil) to support families with children who suffered congenital Zika virus infections during the Zika outbreak in 2018-2020  

OUTREACH  - ART ThERAPY

OUTREACH  - ART ThERAPY thumbnail
 
Art therapy for children and families in Brazil. Art therapy sessions  are  another example of the series of events / workshops we organised with Saude Crinca and UMA (Non-Government Orgnisatioins [NGOs] in Brazil) to support families with children who suffered congenital Zika virus infections during the Zika outbreak in 2018-2020  

OUTREACH- THeaTRE Therapy

OUTREACH- THeaTRE Therapy thumbnail
 
Theatre therapy for children and families in Brazil. Theatre therapy sessions are  another example of the series of events / workshops we organised with Saude Crinca and UMA (Non-Government Orgnisatioins [NGOs] in Brazil) to support families with children who suffered congenital Zika virus infections during the Zika outbreak in 2018-2020  

OUTREACH  - CLOWN THERAPY

OUTREACH  - CLOWN THERAPY thumbnail
 
Clown entertaining children and families In Brazil.  The clown visit is another example of the series of events / workshops we organised with Saude Crinca and UMA (Non-Government Orgnisatioins [NGOs] in Brazil) to support families with children who suffered congenital Zika virus infections during the Zika outbreak in 2018-2020  

OUTREACH - DENTAL HYGIENE

OUTREACH - DENTAL HYGIENE thumbnail
 
The visit by a Dental Hygienist  is another example of the series of events / workshops we organised with Saude Crinca and UMA (Non-Government Orgnisatioins [NGOs] in Brazil) to support families with children who suffered congenital Zika virus infections during the Zika outbreak in 2018-2020  

OUTREACH-BBC BreakFAST INTERVIEW DISCUSSING MICROCEPHALY

OUTREACH-BBC BreakFAST INTERVIEW DISCUSSING MICROCEPHALY thumbnail
 
Prof. Griffiths was Invited onto BBC Breakfast (National morning news programme) to discuss the clinical implications of microcephaly during the Zika Outbreak in Brazil in 2016

Contact

  • Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

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