John Dawes

John Dawes is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Wadham College. He serves as an MRC New Investigator Research Grant Holder and is a Retained Lecturer in Neurophysiology at Wadham College. His research focuses on autoimmune neurology, neuropathic pain, and molecular neurobiology, particularly the role of autoantibodies targeting voltage-gated potassium channel complex components like CASPR2 and LGI1.

His work bridges patient sample analysis with basic pain research to uncover novel molecular pathways regulating pain sensitivity and identify therapeutic targets. Recent publications highlight trends in autoantibody-mediated pain mechanisms, neuroimmunology, and clinical outcomes in autoimmune neurological disorders.

• 2025: Autoantibodies in neuropathic pain
• 2025: Contactin-Associated Protein-Like 2 antibody disease
• 2024: LGI1 protein and pain sensitivity
• 2024: Symptom-based autoimmune disorders

Scientific awards include the MRC New Investigator Research Grant and co-investigator roles on MRC grants. He collaborates with David Bennett and Sarosh Irani within the Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group.