Autoimmune encephalitis

Autoimmune encephalitis is a complex category of disease with diverse immunological associations and clinical manifestations. The Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology is recognized as a leader in the field of autoimmune encephalitis clinical care and research.

Our clinicians and researchers are committed to discovering novel biomarkers and diagnostic clues and developing better treatment strategies, helping instill optimism in people with autoimmune encephalitis.

Key accomplishments

Establishing accurate incidence and prevalence data for autoimmune encephalitis via population-based epidemiology study. Research shows that autoimmune encephalitis may have been underrecognized in the past and that its incidence and prevalence is actually comparable to that of infectious encephalitis.

Recognizing and defining clinical and radiologic attributes of autoimmune encephalitides and epilepsies. These features are used by clinicians all over the world to aid in early diagnosis and treatment.

Detecting the novel antibody biomarkers for autoimmune encephalitis and developing high-throughput diagnostic methodologies. Some of these antibodies are biomarkers of specific malignancies, and their detection may lead to early cancer diagnosis.

Launching the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IgG) in management of LGI1 and CASPR2 IgG-associated autoimmune epilepsy.

Developing new tools for screening the molecular and cellular effects of the pathogenic antibodies present in autoimmune encephalitides.

Establishing laboratory and clinical models for predicting immunotherapy response and disease progression.