Thompson Alan

Thompson Alan is a distinguished Professor of Clinical Neurology and Neurorehabilitation at University College London (UCL), leading the Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation within the UCL Institute of Neurology. He served as Dean of the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences and currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee for the International Progressive MS Alliance. His academic roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Journal and membership on the editorial board of Lancet Neurology.

Education:
- MB BCH BAO BA (1979)
- MD (1985, Trinity College Dublin)
- FRCP (1994), FRCPI (1995), FAAN (2009), FANA (2013), FMedSci (2015).

Research Focus: Alan Thompson specializes in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), MRI innovations for neurological disorders, and outcome measurement in neurorehabilitation. He co-led the development of diagnostic criteria for MS and pioneered MRI techniques like tractography. His work includes evaluating beta-interferon therapies and cannabinoid treatments for MS symptoms.

Grants & Leadership:
- Secured £250M for UCL's UK Dementia Research Institute Hub.
- Led a £10M Alzheimer Research UK Drug Discovery Institute.
- Co-PI for £20M Wolfson Foundation Neurology Research Programme.

Awards:

• 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award (Consortium of MS Centers)
• 2017 John Dystel Prize (American Academy of Neurology)
• 2015 Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences

Advisory Roles: Thompson chairs industry panels (e.g., Eisai Clinical Neuroscience Advisory Board) and serves on MS-focused charities like MSIF. He has supervised 21 PhD/MD graduates and currently mentors 3 students.

Labs & Collaborations: Active in the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre and collaborates with Zurich University on spinal cord injury imaging.