Sixty Seconds with DPhil student, Claire Bergstrom Johnson
17 July 2025
Claire Bergstrom Johnson, a DPhil Clarendon Scholar at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, has been awarded the highly prestigious 2025 Benson Research Fellowship by the GBS|CIDP Foundation International - one of the most competitive fellowships for early-career researchers in peripheral nerve research. We spoke with Claire about the personal journey that inspired her to pursue this field, and how the three-year, $450,000 fellowship will support her ongoing work and future discoveries.
Recruiting participants - improving inclusivity
27 June 2025
We talk to postdoctoral researcher and EDI ambassador Juju Fars about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in research and how they marked Pride month.
NDCN researchers to co-lead new £50m MRC Centre to develop medical device-based therapies for brain conditions
27 June 2025
A new Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) aims to develop brain stimulation devices to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s, dementia, stroke and childhood epilepsy.
Bronze award for NDCN Green Impact team
26 June 2025
Congratulations to the NDCN Green Impact team who have relaunched this year, earning a bronze award for their work to improve sustainability within the department.
Alan Davidson Foundation renews funding for ground-breaking motor neuron disease research at Oxford
20 June 2025
As part of its renewed commitment, the Alan Davidson Foundation will continue to fund a full-time project manager to facilitate the ongoing coordination and growth of the ACORN study. The foundation is also contributing to the cost of a research fellow to support the next phase of the project.
New OPM-MEG brain scanner installed at the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA)
19 June 2025
The advanced technology will open new avenues for research, including scanning children, dementia patients and enable full-body movement studies.
First author publication for final year medical student on Parkinson’s Disease review
13 June 2025
Patrick Oliver, a final year medical student at Oxford, has worked with Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre to get a first author publication on a new review of the gut brain axis in Parkinson’s disease.
Thomas Willis Day 2025
12 June 2025
Our annual event where we join together to celebrate our people and the work of our Department over the last year. Nearly 200 staff and students came together for this year's event on Wednesday 11 June at the Mathematical Institute.
Study highlights effectiveness of neuromodulatory therapy on severe epileptic focal seizures
6 June 2025
A long-term clinical study has confirmed the effectiveness of a neuromodulatory treatment for severe focal seizures in both children and adults with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and demonstrated the therapy’s lasting impact.
Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg appointed Chair of REF 2029 Sub-panel 4
29 May 2025
The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching, Research Culture and Engagement for NDCN teams
23 May 2025
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards, which recognise achievements and celebrate success across the collegiate University, were announced at a special ceremony hosted by the VC in the Sheldonian Theatre on 15 May 2025.
New paper explores how the immune system fails in CASPR2-antibody encephalitis
22 May 2025
The findings shed new light on how the body’s own defenses can mistakenly turn against the brain - and potentially opens the door to more targeted treatments.
New Associate Professors
22 May 2025
Three new Associate Professor were awarded the title in the most recent Recognition of Distinction round.
First participant recruited to pioneering UK trial in global effort to tackle early causes of Parkinson’s
8 May 2025
A pioneering clinical trial for people with a sleep disorder who are at higher risk of developing Parkinson’s has recruited its first UK participant from the Discovery Cohort study at the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre (OPDC)
Oxford-led cross-divisional collaboration wins the prestigious Cozzarelli Prize
30 April 2025
A collaborative study between the Medical Sciences Division and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division at the University of Oxford has been awarded the 2024 PNAS Cozzarelli Prize in Biomedical Science.
Sleep, dance and rhythms of life
29 April 2025
To mark International Dance Day on 29 April, Akanksha Bafna talks about her latest paper and shares how she combines her research into sleep and circadian rhythms with her personal passion for music and dance to help her understand the importance of rhythm in our daily lives.