Running Mad Professor

Litchi-encephalopathy in the North
Nipah in the South
Japanese encephalitis in the East
Chandipurah in the West

What a fabulous tour of neurological infectious diseases across India - the Richard T Johnson lecture given by the wonderful Priscilla Rupali from Christian Medical College Vellore.

Key messages:
- The epidemiology of brain infections varies enormously across India, and geography is important
- A detailed history still remains critical
- Knowledge of the local epidemiology and good diagnostic lab is very helpful

Also fantastic talks talk from:
Rachel Kneen - Mycoplasma encephalopathy
Monique Andersson - Medical Microbiology
Nicholas Davies - Neurosyphilis
Rekha Siripurapu - Radiology
Laura Benjamin - HIV stroke
Fiona McGill - Meningitis

Many thanks to my co-convenors Enitan Carrol, Sylviane Defres, Rachel Kneen.

See you all again tomorrow!

The tragic deaths are a stark reminder that measles is not a harmless childhood illness. We have effective tools to prevent it, and vaccination remains one of the greatest public health successes, saving millions of lives in the UK and around the world.

When routine immunisation rates fall below the levels needed to maintain herd immunity, measles can spread rapidly.

At The Pandemic Institute, we are working to better understand and address the factors driving vaccine hesitancy - from misinformation and mistrust to barriers in access - and to strengthen confidence in routine immunisation.

Read more: https://www.thepandemicinstitute.org/news/why-vaccine-confidence-matters-a-qa-with-professor-tom-solomon

Today we have published our latest measles data. Measles continues to circulate in many parts of the country, with the majority of cases in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under.
Very sadly, we are also reporting two deaths from measles in children this year. These deaths are a heartbreaking reminder that measles can be very serious and sometimes fatal.
We urge all parents to ensure their children are up to date with their MMR or MMRV vaccines, giving them the best and safest protection against measles – which can spread very easily. Anyone who has missed out on their measles vaccines can catch-up through their GP practice whatever their age.

Are you able to help? Please share with your networks.

Are you a healthcare professional, physician, or researcher working with paediatric patients affected by encephalitis, meningitis, or meningoencephalitis sequelae? 🧠

Your expertise is needed! 🙌 Share your input into a Core Outcome Set to help shape and improve outcomes for children worldwide 🌍

👉 https://isaricresearch.github.io/Core-Outcome-Sets/cosmems

A Delphi consensus project initiated by the WHO 🌐 in collaboration with ISARIC.

What does it take to truly stay ahead of emerging neurological infections in a rapidly shifting global landscape?

I’m pleased to be attending the ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting, a key forum for clinicians and researchers from Australia and New Zealand focused on sharing current work and discussing developments in neurology.

I’ll be presenting on:
• “Tackling Emerging Neurological Infectious Disease” (Day 2)
• “Challenging Neurological Infectious Diseases - interactive clinical cases” (Day 4)

Both sessions focus on real-world complexity - from recognising early signals of emerging infections to working through diagnostic and management dilemmas in interactive case-based discussion.

Looking forward to catching up with colleagues and hearing the latest developments.

More information: https://www.anzanasm.com.au/

HOME On behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) Council, Judy Spies and Mark Parsons, chairs of the Scientific Program Committee, and I would like to invite you to attend the ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in Sydney, 23rd-26th of June, 2026 at the Internat...

🆕 A free 2-dose MenB vaccine will be available for a limited time from end of July.
Who can have it:
🏫 All current Year 13s
🧑‍🎓 Anyone either starting university as an undergrad or moving into further education halls for the first time in autumn 2026, aged under 25

Great to see the rollout of the MMRV vaccine being explained so clearly here. A combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella is a really positive step for routine childhood immunisation.

Please click through on the UKHSA link to learn more.

Good to see this work focusing on how health systems can maintain essential services through climate shocks, conflict, and wider crises.

As highlighted in relation to El Niño risks, these pressures are becoming increasingly interconnected. Similar challenges were evident when discussing the Ebola outbreak in the DRC recently, where system resilience is critical to effective response and recovery.

As the UN warns of a possible strong El Niño event later this year, health systems around the world face increasing pressure from climate-related shocks.

Researchers at LSTM's Institute for Resilient Health Systems are working with partners across Africa, Asia and the Middle East to understand how health systems can continue delivering care through climate shocks, conflict and crisis.

Read more: https://lstm.ac/elnino

Earlier this year at the Royal College of Physicians Medicine 2026 conference, we had a fascinating discussion on the future of AI in the NHS with Anne Kinderlerer, Alastair Denniston and Jessica Rose Morley, PhD.

One statistic from that session has stayed with me: 70% of physicians believe AI can improve healthcare, yet 68% feel the NHS is still not digitally ready to realise its full potential.

The challenge is no longer whether AI will become part of clinical practice - it already is. The real question is how we ensure its adoption is safe, effective, equitable and genuinely beneficial for patients.

That means addressing some of the issues we discussed at RCP: interoperability, governance, workforce training, digital infrastructure and building systems that support rather than replace clinical judgement.

These are exactly the conversations that need to continue, which is why the upcoming RCR Global AI Conference is so timely. Innovation alone is not enough. Success will depend on how well we translate technological advances into better care, better experiences for patients and better outcomes across the health service.

hashtag

AI is reshaping clinical practice. Are you ready to support its safe adoption and integration?

Lock in your spot for the Conference. Savings end tomorrow at 23:59 (BST). Book now: https://rcraiconference.com/2026/pages/fees

Here is what’s waiting for you:

⭐5 dynamic streams covering safe and practical AI - from foundations to the frontline

⭐100+ talks packed with real-world clinical insights and live Q&A

⭐100 Global AI experts and keynote speakers sharing pioneering strategies

⭐20 innovative AI exhibitors showcasing next-gen tools

⭐50+ CPD credits and 30 days on-demand access

⭐Immersive fringe events including a Clinical Escape Room, silent symposium, innovation zone and exclusive networking reception & more!

Congratulations to everyone involved in securing approval for the new University of Liverpool campus in Bengaluru, which received its Letter of Approval from the Government of India this week at an event attended by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and senior ministers from both countries. This is a fantastic development for both the UK and India.

I have worked in Bengaluru since the early 2000s (when it was still Bangalore!) in partnership with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru. It is a brilliant place to work - home to fantastic scientists, highly motivated teachers, and incredibly dedicated healthcare professionals.

Bengaluru is one of the world's great centres for innovation, research and education. This new campus represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen academic links, foster new research collaborations, and help develop the next generation of scientists, clinicians and global leaders.

I look forward to seeing the impact it will have in the years ahead.

https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2026/06/05/bengaluru-campus-receives-approval-from-government-of-india-at-event-attended-by-uk-foreign-secretary/

Government of India approves Bengaluru campus at event attended by UK foreign secretary - University of Liverpool News Government of India approves Bengaluru campus at event attended by UK foreign secretary