The Neurogenetics Research Group has led to landmark findings in the epidemiology and genetics of multiple sclerosis (MS). This work has shown maternal effects; that familial clustering of MS is entirely genetic and environmental factors act at a population level. The group has demonstrated allelic heterogeneity at HLA-DRB1*15 exert the single strongest genetic effect in MS and influence clinical outcome. Ongoing studies are establishing the complex relationship between sunlight or Vitamin D, key environmental factors and HLA-DRB1*15 expression. We recently identified the first gene linked to typical migraine through functional genomic approaches in families with migraine.

Research continues on rare genetic variants in ion channels associated with migraine and how their functional interactions can alter neuronal excitability in primary and stem cell derived neuronal cultures. This has led to an active translational research programme to identify new therapies for pain and migraine.