ISTM

Professor Hawkins is Professor of Clinical Neurology at Keele University, and Consultant Neurologist to the Regional Neuroscience Centre, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.

He trained as Research fellow, registrar and Lecturer in Clinical Neurology at the Institute of Neurology, National Hospital and University College Hospitals, London. Subsequently he was appointed Senior Lecturer in 1992 and Reader in 2000, to the School of Postgraduate Medicine at Keele.

ISTM Research theme: 1. Neuroscience & Human Metabolism - Clinical Lead for NHM theme

Research Interests:

1. Molecular genetics in MS, with regard to susceptibility and outcome/disability. A database has been established of over 1,400 MS patients in the North-West of England (Stoke, Liverpool, Manchester) with blood samples for DNA and disability measurements. Over 80 genetic polymorphisms have been analysed (with Prof Richard Strange, Keele and Prof Bill Ollier / Prof Jane Worthington, Manchester). Current work is focusing on haplotype interactions of candidate genes involved in the process of inflammation and axonal loss. We are currently collaborating with the Broad Institute, Harvard/MIT, Boston, USA and Cambridge, UK.

2. Vision studies to compare functional deficit by psychophysics with pathophysiology (evoked potential) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the optic nerve and visual pathway in the brain (with Prof David Foster, University of Manchester). Current work includes studying two types of bilateral optic neuritis using psychophysics.

3. The Keele Multiple Sclerosis Clinical trial unit is currently involved in ten major multi-centre International research trials in Relapsing and Progressive MS. There are 3 post-graduate research students, Lecturer/research registrars studying for a PhD/MD thesis in molecular genetics or vision studies.

In August 2010 Prof Hawkins became a Co-Director of the West Midlands (North) Comprehensive Local Research Network.