I have been at King’s College Hospital, London since April 2005, starting there immediately after leaving my post in Newcastle. I run muscle disease and myasthenia clinics for my catchment area of the south-east of England. In addition, I hold motor neuron disease and general neurology clinics further out into Kent. I am one of the acute neurologists participating in the King’s regional neurology acute on call rota. My special interests are in pregnancy in myasthenia and muscle disease patients and I have published accordingly. I am also interested in new therapies for both groups and am PI for a clinical trial in myasthenia gravis.
I came to work for Prof. Bushby in order to enhance my clinical knowledge of genetic muscle conditions, particularly the limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. The post allowed me to immerse myself in genetic muscle disease. The knowledge and approach that I gained through working with all multidisciplinary colleagues in Newcastle has served me very well through the years. As well as the population study Brain paper mentioned below, I wrote a diagnostic algorithm for the LGMDs, under the supervision of Prof Bushby, that sought to clarify a diagnostic approach for those newer to the field.
Publication
The epidemiology of the north-east muscle clinic population, conducted approximately 50 years after Walton and Nattrass’ paper from 1954. Prevalence of genetic muscle disease in Northern England: in-depth analysis of a muscle clinic population. Norwood et al. Brain 2009 Nov;132(Pt11):3175-86.
