My group researches multiple sclerosis. We use genetic analysis to identify relevant variants and then attempt to understand the immunological and neurobiological consequences of these using expression studies and functional assays. As well as continuing efforts to identify variants influencing susceptibility we are also undertaking studies to identify the genetic factors influencing the clinical course of the disease and its response to treatment. In parallel with our on-going genetic studies we are now also investigating how these variants influence gene expression in immune cells from the blood and the CSF, and undertaking functional assays to determine the effects of selected variants.