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Myasthenia Gravis Research Group

  • DCN

Dedicated to improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic disorder, and congenital myasthenic syndromes.

Our group is led by Associate Professor Dr Maria Isabel Leite, Consultant Neurologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, together with NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Consultant Neurologist Dr Bo Sun, and Consultant Neurologist Dr Mohammad Ashraghi.   

Our team brings together expertise in clinical neurology, immunology, and data science, working across the University of Oxford, the NHS, and with international collaborators, we aim to translate discovery into better outcomes for people living with myasthenia.  

Research aims

  • Investigate the epidemiology, diagnostic pathway, management, and outcomes of myasthenia using real-world data from the UK Myasthenia Database and clinical audits. 

  • Define immunopathogenic mechanisms of myasthenia by working in collaboration with the Autoimmune Neurology Group to refine antibody assays and characterise emerging biomarkers.  

  • Explore links with cancer, including thymic malignancies and other paraneoplastic syndromes, through integrated laboratory and computational research. 

Our team

Selected publications

Research Projects

  • Dr. Sofija Paneva is leading a project on the evolution of the antibody-mediated immune response in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody myasthenia gravis 

  • Dr. Ezgi Bakircioglu Duman is pursuing a DPhil on maternal acetylcholine receptor antibody-associated neonatal disorders (frequency and mechanisms). 

  • Isobel Cabraal is conducting an audit of the clinical utility of LRP4 antibody testing for myasthenia gravis diagnosis. 

DATABASES

The Myasthenia Gravis Research Group host national clinical and biosample databases that support translational myasthenia research: 

  • The UK Myasthenia Database (UKMyDb) is the UK’s first national, web-based patient registry for myasthenic disorders, including myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and congenital myasthenic syndromes. The database brings together real-time clinical data from centres across the UK to improve understanding of disease patterns and epidemiology, treatment outcomes, and unmet needs. 

  • Myarchive is a curated repository of over 6,000 biosamples (blood, PBMCs, thymic tissue) from more than 2,000 individuals with myasthenia gravis and related conditions, linked with detailed clinical metadata. Researchers may apply for access, and samples can be shared following review and approval, supporting high-quality studies to advance treatment of myasthenia gravis. 

Group updates

MG RESEARCH Patient Information Day, October 2025

We were delighted to host a successful Myasthenia Gravis Research Group Patient Information Day on 25th October, bringing together patients, their families and the Myasthenia Research Group for an engaging and inspiring event. The day featured personal experiences shared by patients, informative presentations from our team on our research and the scientific background of MG, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and connection. We are grateful to everyone who took part and look forward to hosting more patient days in the future and continuing to work closely with patients to guide and inform our ongoing and upcoming projects. 

Four pictures of the first Myasthenia patient day, this includes staff and patients.

MGFA International Conference, May 2025

At the MGFA International Conference on Myasthenia and Related Disorders in The Hague, our group had an active presence: 

  • Professor Angela Vincent, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for this research group, received the first-ever MGFA Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her groundbreaking contributions to the field. 
  • Associate Professor Isabel Leite was a panellist in the “What I Don’t Know About MG Roundtable”. 

We also presented two posters: 

  • Cabraal, I., Ashraghi, M., Leite, M. I. (2025, May). Epidemiology of AChR-IgG and MuSK-IgG seropositive myasthenia gravis in Oxfordshire, UK (2011-2023).  
  • Sanabria, C., Zara, P., Liem, B., Hanna, K., Leite, M. I. (2025, May). Thymomatous myasthenia gravis in a teenager who developed breast cancer. 

Image 1: Professor Angela Vincent, an older woman with short gray hair, standing on a conference stage, smiling and holding a glass award (the MGFA Lifetime Achievement Award). She wears a dark blazer and patterned scarf. Behind her is a blue backdrop with ‘MGFA’ and ‘Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America’ conference signage and dates. Image 2: Professor Angela Vincent, an older woman with short gray hair, standing at a lectern on a conference stage speaking into a microphone. She wears a cream-colored blazer. A large screen behind her shows a live video of her speaking Image 3: Professor Amelia Evoli and Professor Isabel Leite stand together in a busy lobby, both wearing lanyards. Professor Evoli, the woman on the left has chin-length brown hair, glasses, and is dressed in a white shirt and dark blazer. Professor Leite, the woman on the right, has short white hair and is wearing a green v-neck top with a light gray jacket. People and displays are visible in the background. Image 4: Isobel Cabraal and Professor Isabel Leite stand in front of a large scientific poster displayed at a conference. Both are wearing attendee lanyards and smiling at the camera. The poster features text and diagrams. The setting is a well-lit conference hall with other posters visible in the background.

ABN Annual Meeting, May 2025

Our group contributed to the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) Annual Meeting in Liverpool, presenting two posters on the UK Myasthenia Database (UKMyDb): 

  • Ferguson, F., Cabraal, I., Ashraghi, M., & Leite, M. I. (2025, May). UK Myasthenia Database (UKMyDb): Current status of recruitment in Oxford, UK. 

  • M Ashraghi. BSc, MBBS, MRCP1, F Ferguson1, I Cabraal, M I Leite. MD, DPhil, FRCP. (2025, May). An Update on the status of the UK Myasthenia Database (UKMyDb). 

         Image 1: Professor Isabel Leite, an older woman with short white hair stands in front of a booth labeled ‘Ask the Expert.’ She faces a holographic display that shows a life-size image of herself. The scene takes place in a large, modern conference hall with other attendees and displays visible in the background. Image 2: Francesca Ferguson, a woman with blonde hair, stands and smiles beside two research posters displayed on gray panels at a conference. The posters contain charts, maps, and text related to the UK Myasthenia Database (UKMyDb). The setting is a large exhibition hall with industrial-style lighting and other posters visible in the background.

MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre 2025 Annual Meeting, March 2025  

At the MDUK ONMC Annual Meeting, Associate Professor Isabel Leite presented “Myasthenia Gravis: Changes in Demographics, Features, and Management Over the Last Decades.” 

                 Professor Isabel Leite, an older woman with short white hair, stands at a podium in a lecture hall giving a presentation. The large projected slide behind them reads ‘MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre 2025 Annual Meeting’ and ‘Myasthenia gravis: changes in demographics, features and management over the last decades.’ The University of Oxford logo and MDUK branding are visible on the slide and podium.