Associate Professor Adam Handel leads the Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group. We spoke to him ahead of his Departmental Seminar.
Tell us a little about yourself, and what attracted you to working at the University of Oxford?
I grew up on the Isle of Wight, in what was once Robert Hooke’s back garden. Entirely by accident I ended up going to the same Oxford college where Hooke worked as a research assistant. Wadham also happens to be where I met my wife, who was studying there at the same time, and Oxford quickly became both an academic and personal home.
My attraction to Oxford long pre-dated my arrival. As a teenager, I fell in love with the city through the pages of His Dark Materials and the Morse novels—the spires, colleges, and sense of intellectual curiosity left a lasting impression. Once here, what really cemented my desire to stay was the people. Oxford has an extraordinary density of interesting, thoughtful, and eclectic individuals, and it is rare to come away from a conversation having not learned something new. That environment has been a constant source of inspiration, and one I have been keen to remain part of.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my children, reading, going on walks, playing tennis, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends.
How did you get to where you are today? Can you tell us more about your career path?
I studied medicine at Oxford, during which time I developed a growing interest in neuroscience. This led me to an academic foundation post in Oxford, where I began researching multiple sclerosis, with a particular focus on genetics and environmental risk factors.
Following this, I undertook an Academic Clinical Fellowship at University College London. While this was an invaluable experience academically, my wife and I quickly realised that we missed living in Oxford. We returned to Oxford for my DPhil and then I later continued my clinical training as a Clinical Lecturer in Neurology.
In many ways, my career path has been shaped by a combination of intellectual curiosity, personal circumstances (including a long-suffering family!), and a long-standing affection for Oxford. I have been fortunate to train and work in environments that have supported both clinical and academic development, allowing me to build a research programme closely aligned with patient care.
Can you give us a brief overview of your research?
I lead the Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group, which studies neuroinflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, with a particular focus on autoimmune encephalitis. Our aim is to understand the immune mechanisms that drive these conditions, how they evolve clinically, and how this knowledge can be translated into better treatments for patients.
To do this, we use single-cell sequencing and other advanced experimental approaches to study immune cells in fine detail. By examining how different immune populations behave and interact, we aim to uncover the biological processes underlying disease onset and progression, and to identify potential targets for novel therapies.
What is the aim/vision for your research?
A central focus of our work is on T cells, which have historically been understudied in autoimmune encephalitis. Much of the field has concentrated on B cells and autoantibodies, which undeniably play an important role. However, up to half of patients with autoimmune encephalitis test negative for all known autoantibody targets.
Our overarching aim is to identify alternative immune mechanisms that may explain disease development in this substantial group of patients. We are particularly interested in whether T cells may play a previously unrecognised role in driving pathology. By broadening the immunological framework of these conditions, we hope to open new avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
What can we expect from your Departmental Seminar?
The seminar will provide an overview of several particularly exciting lines of investigation currently underway in our laboratory. These range from studies of viral triggers of autoimmunity to detailed explorations of T-cell involvement in autoimmune encephalitis.
Importantly, this work is led by exceptionally talented scientists within the group, each bringing their own expertise and perspective. My aim is to highlight the breadth and depth of their contributions, and to do justice to the innovative research being carried out across the team.
What key question are you trying to answer in your Departmental Seminar?
At its core, the seminar asks two closely linked questions: why do some individuals develop autoimmune encephalitis, and what role might T cells play in this process that has yet to be fully explored?
Ultimately, these questions are all directed towards a single goal—understanding disease mechanisms well enough to improve outcomes for patients. By refining our understanding of immune involvement in autoimmune encephalitis, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective and targeted therapies.