The focus of our team is research into the mechanisms underlying the neurological deficits in disorders characterised by inflammation, demyelination and/or degeneration. Our main focus is the inflammatory demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but our research also includes projects on motor neuron disease and glaucoma. Particular current interests are the several roles of nitric oxide in neuropathology, hypoxia, and developing a novel therapeutic strategy for axonal protection in neuroinflammatory disease such as MS. We are particularly interested in how inflammation disturbs the normal function of the nervous system, with particular reference to the suspected role of hypoxia and nitric oxide. We believe that understanding the mechanisms operating in neuroinflammatory lesions will indicate new potential therapeutic avenues.One such therapy arising directly from our research is currently under clinical trial in patients with secondary progressive MS (see below).