Professor Christopher Kennard, who has been appointed Head of the Department of Clinical Neurology, succeeds recently retired Professor Angela Vincent to take on the mantle of brain research theme leader for the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.
He moves to the University from his position as Professor of Clinical Neurology and Deputy Principal (Dean) of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, where he was also responsible for the Charing Cross Campus and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Professor Kennard will continue as the Chair of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Board of the MRC and will be working to develop neurosciences in Oxford.
With his senior colleagues, Olaf Ansorge, Tipu Aziz, Russell Foster, Jackie Palace, Kevin Talbot, Irene Tracy and Gordon Wilcock, Professor Kennard will coordinate the use of NIHR funding for translational research to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of neuroimmunological and neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Motor Neurone disease. They will use the latest technologies such as brain imaging and deep brain stimulation. The brain theme also embraces the important neurological areas of pain and sleep disorders, relating to brain and eye disease.
Professor Kennard said: “The Brain theme of the Oxford BRC is well underway and our research teams are already producing some exciting results. I hope I will be able to help develop new collaborations between basic neuroscientitsts in the University and our clinicians, to speed up the translation of their research to our patients. I want our patients with brain disorders to receive the very latest and best treatment when they come to the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals.”