Dr Gavin Brittain

MBBS, MRCP(UK), PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

gavin.brittain@sheffield.ac.uk

Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)

Full contact details

Dr Gavin Brittain
School of Medicine and Population Health
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ

Profile

My interest in neurosciences and multiple sclerosis (MS) started whilst undertaking my undergraduate medical degree at Newcastle University. After qualifying, I had resident doctor rotations in Greater Manchester, gaining experience in general medicine and neurology and gained the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) qualification in 2017.

In 2018, I started a speciality training registrar post in neurology in Sheffield, at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. After becoming part of the Sheffield MS research group, led by Professor Basil Sharrack, I undertook an out of programme for research secondment as an academic clinical fellow at SITraN to gain a PhD from August 2021 to August 2024. I worked across a range of academic and pharmaceutical MS trials, including Mobilise-D and as an NIHR associate PI within StarMS. My thesis was titled “Real world mobility as a biomarker for multiple sclerosis” and was part of the EU funded Mobilise-D consortium (www.mobilise-d.eu).

I am currently a NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, focusing on developing the understanding of biomarkers of MS and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT).

Research interests: My research interests are the development of serological and digital biomarkers for the assessment of people with MS, and related conditions, particularly their gait/walking, and aHSCT.

Publications

Journal articles

Boffa G, Genchi A, Mariottini A, Brittain G, Snowden J, Alexander T, Badoglio M, Roldan Galvan E, Muraro PA, Sharrack B , Saccardi R et al (2025) Aggressive MS and autologous HSCT: a review on behalf of the Autoimmune Diseases Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. View this article in WRRO
Kazmi M, Muraro PA, Mehra V, Gabriel I, De Matteis E, Brittain G, Mariottini A, Nicholas R, Silber E, Lee J , Pearce R et al (2025) Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis in the UK: a 20-year retrospective analysis of activity and haematological outcomes from the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (BSBMTCT). British Journal of Haematology. View this article in WRRO
Lumsdon J, Wilson C, Alcock L, Becker C, Benvenuti F, Bonci T, van den Brande K, Brittain G, Brown P, Buckley E , Caruso M et al (2025) Cocreating the visualization of digital mobility outcomes: Delphi-type process with patients. JMIR Formative Research, 9. View this article in WRRO
Brittain G, Buckley E, Leocani L, Comi G, Costa GD, Gassner H, Rothhammer V, Stürner K, Hansen C, Brichetto G , Garcia J et al (2025) Detecting Smouldering Multiple Sclerosis with Real-world Mobility Monitoring (P2-1.001). Neurology, 104(7_Supplement_1).
Sharrack B, Brittain G, Long M, Buckley E, Comi G, Leocani L, Costa GD, Rothhammer V, Stürner K, Hansen C , Brichetto G et al (2025) Digital Mobility Outcomes are the Next Step in Advancing Neurological Care and Trials (P2-1.003). Neurology, 104(7_Supplement_1).
Brittain G, de Matteis E, Nicholas R, Silber E, Mehra V, Gabriel I, Lee J, Pearce R, Sormani MP, Signori A , Paul R et al (2025) Real-world Effectiveness and Predictors of Response to Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in MS: The UK Experience in 271 Patients Treated During 2000–2023 (S3.009). Neurology, 104(7_Supplement_1).
Brittain G, Roldan E, Alexander T, Saccardi R, Snowden JA, Sharrack B & Greco R (2024) The Role of chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy in immune‐mediated neurological diseases. Annals of Neurology, 96(3), 441-452. View this article in WRRO
Brittain G, Buckley E, Leocani L, Martinis M, Costa GD, Gassner H, Rothhammer V, Stuerner K, Becker C, Rochester L , Comi G et al (2024) Digital Mobility Outcome Measures Are a Useful Phenotyping Tool in Multiple Sclerosis (S31.008). Neurology, 102(7_supplement_1).
Brittain G, Cooper C, Glover R, Loban A, Muraro P, Papaioannou D, Roldan E, Sharrack B & Snowden J (2024) Aggressive Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Phenotype and Treatment Within a Randomised Clinical Trial of Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation vs High Efficacy Disease Modifying Treatment (P9-6.004). Neurology, 102(7_supplement_1).
Brittain G, Petrie J, Duffy KEM, Glover R, Hullock K, Papaioannou D, Roldan E, Beecher C, Bursnall M, Ciccarelli O , Coles AJ et al (2024) Efficacy and safety of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation versus alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab or cladribine in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (StarMS): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 14(2). View this article in WRRO
Kirk C, Küderle A, Micó-Amigo ME, Bonci T, Paraschiv-Ionescu A, Ullrich M, Soltani A, Gazit E, Salis F, Alcock L , Aminian K et al (2024) Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device. Scientific Reports, 14(1). View this article in WRRO
Brittain G, Buckley E, Costa GD, Martinis M, Chakraborty S, Stuerner KH, Rothhammer V, Gassner H, Leocani L, Comi G , Becker C et al (2023) Mobilise-D: The largest observational trial of digital mobility outcome measures in multiple sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 455, 121059-121059.
Brittain G, Roldan E, Glover R, Cooper C, Papaioannou D, Muraro P, Sharrack B & Snowden AJ (2023) The evolution of entry criteria in clinical trials of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis to reflect changing clinical practice. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 455, 121832-121832.
Brittain G, Roldan E, Ismail A, Khalifa M, John Snowden A & Sharrack B (2023) Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy treated with autologus haematopoetic stem cell transplantation: A case report and patient’s real world experience. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 455, 122697-122697.
Keogh A, Mc Ardle R, Diaconu MG, Ammour N, Arnera V, Balzani F, Brittain G, Buckley E, Buttery S, Cantu A , Corriol-Rohou S et al (2023) Mobilizing patient and public involvement in the development of real-world digital technology solutions: tutorial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25. View this article in WRRO
Brittain G, Coles AJ, Giovannoni G, Muraro PA, Palace J, Petrie J, Roldan E, Scolding NJ, Snowden JA & Sharrack B (2023) Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for immune-mediated neurological diseases: what, how, who and why?. Practical Neurology, 23(2), 139-145. View this article in WRRO
Scott K, Bonci T, Salis F, Alcock L, Buckley E, Gazit E, Hansen C, Schwickert L, Aminian K, Bertuletti S , Caruso M et al (2022) Design and validation of a multi-task, multi-context protocol for real-world gait simulation. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 19. View this article in WRRO
Mikolaizak AS, Rochester L, Maetzler W, Sharrack B, Demeyer H, Mazzà C, Caulfield B, Garcia-Aymerich J, Vereijken B, Arnera V , Miller R et al (2022) Connecting real-world digital mobility assessment to clinical outcomes for regulatory and clinical endorsement–the Mobilise-D study protocol. PLoS ONE, 17(10). View this article in WRRO
Brittain G, McKee E, Siripurapu R, Stockley H & Langheinrich T (2022) An unusual complication of varicella zoster. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 52(3), 263-264. View this article in WRRO
Cencioni MT, Genchi A, Brittain G, de Silva TI, Sharrack B, Snowden JA, Alexander T, Greco R & Muraro PA (2022) Immune reconstitution following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis : a review on behalf of the EBMT autoimmune diseases working party. Frontiers in Immunology, 12. View this article in WRRO
Polhemus A, Ortiz LD, Brittain G, Chynkiamis N, Salis F, Gaßner H, Gross M, Kirk C, Rossanigo R, Taraldsen K , Balta D et al (2021) Walking on common ground : a cross-disciplinary scoping review on the clinical utility of digital mobility outcomes. npj Digital Medicine, 4(1). View this article in WRRO
Fernandes L, Allen CM, Williams T, Tallantyre E, Evangelou N, Chataway J & Ford HL (2021) The contemporary role of MRI in the monitoring and management of people with multiple sclerosis in the UK. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 55, 103190-103190.
Polhemus A, Bergquist R, Bosch de Basea M, Brittain G, Buttery S, Chynkiamis N, dalla Costa G, Delgado Ortiz L, Demeyer H, Emmert K , Garcia-Aymerich J et al (2020) Walking-related digital mobility outcomes as clinical trial endpoint measures: Protocol for a scoping review. British Medical Journal, 10(7). View this article in WRRO
Spyropoulos A, Petherham K, McSorley N, Brittain G, Guadagno J & Duddy M (2014) FINGOLIMOD IN NEWCASTLE: THE FIRST 100 PATIENTS' EXPERIENCE. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 85(10), e4.55-e4.
Kirk C, Küderle A, Micó-Amigo ME, Bonci T, Paraschiv-Ionescu A, Ullrich M, Soltani A, Gazit E, Salis F, Alcock L , Aminian K et al () Author Correction: Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device. Scientific Reports, 14(1).

Chapters

Brittain G, Burt RK & Sharrack B (2021) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases (pp. 406-416). CRC Press

Conference proceedings papers

Brittain G, Long M, Buckley E, Leocani L, Costa GD, Stuerner K, Gassner H, Rothhammer V, Rochester L, Becker C , Aymerich JG et al (2024) Unsupervised digital mobility monitoring differentiates between subtypes of Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 318-319)
Kazmi M, Muraro P, Mehra V, Gabriel I, De Matteis E, Brittain G, Nicholas R, Silber E, Lee J, Pearce R , Paul R et al (2024) AUTOLOGOUS HSCT IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: THE UK EXPERIENCE 2002-2023 (ON BEHALF OF THE BSBMT CTC GROUP). BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Vol. 59 (pp 39-40)
Buckley E, van Gelder L, Abu Baker MAM, Baster K, Brittain G, Paling D, Sharrack B, Mazza C & Nair S (2024) Can Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning improve walking in people with Multiple Sclerosis?. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 675-675)
Brittain G, Buckley E, Leocani L, Costa GD, Stuerner K, Rothhammer V, Gassner H, Rochester L, Aymerich JG, Becker C , Comi G et al (2024) Step count is influenced by season in people with Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 321-322)
Muraro P, Kazmi M, De Matteis E, Brittain G, Nicholas R, Silber E, Mehra V, Gabriel I, Lee J, Pearce R , Malladi R et al (2024) Real-world Effectiveness and Safety of Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in MS: the UK Experience in 363 patients treated during 2002-2023. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 20-21)
Brittain G, Ismail A, Hoyle N, Roldan E, Snowden J & Sharrack B (2024) The impact of disease modifying treatment washout periods prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: real-world experience at a large centre. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 1073-1074)
Buckley E, Brittain G, Comi G, Dalla Costa G, Leocani L, Gassner H, Rothhammer V, Stuerner K & Sharrack B (2024) Mobility disability importance to people with Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 479-479)
Brittain G, Buckley E, Dalla Costa G, Stuerner K, Gassner H, Leocani L, Rothhammer V, Comi G, Becker C, Garcia Aymerich J , Rochester L et al (2024) Falls in Multiple Sclerosis - a global issue but predictable with remote mobility monitoring. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 30(3) (pp 988-989)
Buckley E, Brittain G, Angelini L, De Angelis F, Scott K, Nair S, Mazza C, Sharrack B, Chataway J & Paling D (2023) The correlation between digital mobility outcomes and atrophy of cerebellar lobules in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 29 (pp 846-846)
Brittain G, Buckley E, Scott K, Angelini L, De Angelis F, Nair S, Chataway J, Majid A, Mazza C, Sharrack B & Paling D (2023) Quality, not quantity, of walking correlates with deep grey matter in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 29 (pp 317-318)
Brittain G, Buckley E, Pattanaik D, Dalla Costa G, Leocani L, Gassner H, Stuerner K, Comi G & Sharrack B (2023) Telephone EDSS, a widely used clinical tool, is not a reliable alternative to in person EDSS. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 29 (pp 908-909)
Brittain G, Buckley E, Chakraborty S, Comi G, Costa GD, Gassner H, Leocani L, Martinis M, Rothhammer V, Stuerner K , Becker C et al (2023) Quality of real world walking is reflective of disease severity - results from MOBILISE-D; the largest trial of Digital Mobility Outcome measures in Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 29 (pp 316-317)
Brittain G, Glover R, Roldan E, Papaioannou D, Cooper C, Muraro P, Snowden J & Sharrack B (2022) A changing target - adapting ongoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinical trials to evolving clinical practice in the treatment of highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 28(3_SUPPL) (pp 843-843)
Paling D, Angelini L, Mazza C, Angelis FD, Brittain G, Buckley E, Nair S, Sharrack B & Chataway J (2021) Deep grey matter atrophy predicts longitudinal worsening of gait dynamics in progressive MS; a gait biosensor subgroup analysis of the MS-SMART clinical trial [NCT01910259]. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 27(2_SUPPL) (pp 325-326)
Evangelou N, Patel S, Bharkhada D, Perkins SG, Mubarak Mohamed A, Brittain G, Lerou DI, Minton T, Fernandes L, Paling D , Rice CM et al (2021) COVID-19 prevalence and outcomes in people with MS taking disease modifying therapies: a population study using NHS England data. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 27(2_SUPPL) (pp 227-227)

Preprints

Lumsdon J, Wilson C, Alcock L, Becker C, Benvenuti F, Bonci T, van den Brande K, Brittain G, Brown P, Buckley E , Caruso M et al (2024) Cocreating the Visualization of Digital Mobility Outcomes: Delphi-Type Process With Patients (Preprint), JMIR Publications Inc..
Keogh A, Mc Ardle R, Diaconu MG, Ammour N, Arnera V, Balzani F, Brittain G, Buckley E, Buttery S, Cantu A , Corriol-Rohou S et al (2022) Mobilizing Patient and Public Involvement in the Development of Real-World Digital Technology Solutions: Tutorial (Preprint), JMIR Publications Inc..
Mikolaizak AS, Rochester L, Maetzler W, Sharrack B, Demeyer H, Mazzà C, Caulfield B, Garcia-Aymerich J, Vereijken B, Arnera V , Miller R et al (2022) Connecting real-world digital mobility assessment to clinical outcomes for regulatory and clinical endorsement – the Mobilise-D study protocol, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Grants

Identifying Immune Biomarkers of Disease and Disease Control in Autoimmune Neurological Disease using Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (‘BIO‐MS’). Sheffield Hospitals Charity. PI. 05/2022.
Exploring real‐world mobility in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, MS Trust (formally MS Research Treatment & Education). PI, 03/2024,
Mobility mapping: Working with people with multiple sclerosis to map real‐world walking experiences to digital mobility outcome measures, to improve clinical assessment. Health Research Board, Ireland. Co‐applicant,

Teaching interests: I am the module lead for the neuroinflammatory module which forms part of the MSc in Clinical Neurology. I teach MSc students on the Masters courses in Clinical Neurology and Translational Neuroscience and Supervise MSc Research Projects. I teach medical students of all levels and teach resident doctors neurological examination and PACES examination technique.