Running Mad Professor

04/03/2026

Delighted to announce that the Liverpool Neurological Infectious Diseases (NeuroID) Course 2026 is now open for booking!

If you’ve ever struggled with a patient with a brain infection, this course is for you.

It is a 2-day, approved CPD course for clinicians of all grades - including medical students - working in Adult and Paediatric Neurology, Infectious Diseases, Acute Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Medical Microbiology.

Held every year since 2007 at the University of Liverpool, NeuroID has trained more than 1,000 delegates from over 40 countries and has been oversubscribed every single year!

📅 17–18 June 2026
📍 Sherrington Building (Building 311, Square D9), University of Liverpool campus

The programme features case presentations and talks from UK and international experts, alongside updates on the latest brain infections research - with a strong emphasis on practical, clinically relevant management you can apply immediately.

Places go quickly each year. If you’re planning to attend, I would encourage you to book early!

Full details and registration via the course website - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/neuroidcourse/

03/03/2026

Significant new research from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has identified a DNA marker in Anopheles gambiae linked to pyrethroid resistance.

As outlined in the article, this discovery could markedly improve how resistance is detected and tracked in malaria vector populations - offering a more precise, scalable approach to surveillance.

An important advance for efforts to sustain the effectiveness of malaria control tools.

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/news-events/news/dna-marker-in-malaria-mosquitoes-may-be-pivotal-in-tackling-insecticide-resistance

A new study, jointly led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) in Cameroon, has detected a DNA marker in a gene encoding for a key enzyme, known as cytochrome P450, that helps mosquitoes to break down and survive exposure to pyrethroids, t...

02/03/2026

What does hospital to community care look like under the government’s vision for neighbourhood health?

Dr Minal Bakhai MBE, national lead for the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, joins physicians from across specialties to explore neighbourhood health and the role of medical specialists within this model.

📍 Royal College of Physicians Med Plus | 13–14 May

https://rcpmedicine.co.uk/2026

We represent around 40,000 doctors worldwide - educating, improving and influencing for better health and care

26/02/2026

There is still time to complete our Campaign priorities survey📝

If you are an or , tell us what issues the RCP should campaign on in 2026, your views are vital to ensure our campaigns are rooted in physician experience.

👉Help us to keep advocating for you and your patients, complete the survey now: https://ow.ly/nnT650YeqPW
🗓️Survey closes Friday 27 February.

25/02/2026

What a read!

Inspiring to see the global reach and impact of World Encephalitis Day and the community driving awareness forward. Congratulations Encephalitis International!

World Encephalitis 2026 - 22 Highlights Blog 🔴🔥

On the 13th anniversary of World Encephalitis Day we are proud to share 22 highlights from this year’s global campaign, showcasing the incredible impact of our community around the world 🌍💙

From powerful personal stories and billboards around the world to media coverage and international partnerships, WED 2026 has once again shown what we can achieve together in raising awareness of encephalitis ✨

To our global encephalitis community, media supporters and organisational partners, thank you for your passion, collaboration and commitment in making World Encephalitis Day 2026 so impactful 🤝📣

👉 Discover all 22 highlights here: https://www.encephalitis.info/22-highlights-world-encephalitis-day-2026/

24/02/2026

We are excited to share this glimpse inside high-containment research supported by The Pandemic Institute.

This strategic research post, held by Dr Tessa Prince, combines artificial intelligence and advanced microscopy to improve how we study high-risk viruses such as MERS-CoV, a pathogen with a fatality rate of around 36%.

Working in a containment level 3 laboratory, Tessa is using automated imaging and machine learning to identify infected cells and capture detailed images more efficiently. This approach is helping accelerate our understanding of dangerous viruses while strengthening preparedness for future pandemics.

🎥 The video in the article shows the AI-trained system automatically detecting infected cells and capturing images of areas of interest in real time. By integrating AI, automation and advanced imaging, this work is building new capability for faster and more effective pandemic response.

Read the full article here: https://www.thepandemicinstitute.org/news/advancing-ai-enabled-research-on-emerging-infectious-diseases/

19/02/2026

F.L.A.M.E.S stands for:

Flu-like Symptoms
Loss of Consciousness
Acute Headache
Memory Problems
Emotional/Behavioural Changes
Seizures

These are the symptoms most commonly found in both infectious and autoimmune causes of encephalitis.

77% of people have never heard of encephalitis.

Encephalitis International are determined to change this with your support.

We need your help today: download your F.L.A.M.E.S. resources and share these far and wide!

https://www.encephalitis.info/FLAMES/

18/02/2026

What are the challenges of engaging the public, policymakers and researchers in addressing complex data issues?

Professor Ben Goldacre closes Day 1 of Royal College of Physicians with expert reflections on his career advocating for improved research methods.

Discover more here - https://rcpmedicine.co.uk/2026/programme

17/02/2026

I’m proud to support the launch of F.L.A.M.E.S., an urgent new initiative from Encephalitis International.

F.L.A.M.E.S. – Flu-like Symptoms, Loss of Consciousness, Acute Headache, Memory Problems, Emotional/Behavioural Changes, Seizures – highlights the neurological signs that can signal encephalitis. Early recognition is critical: faster diagnosis saves lives and improves outcomes, yet far too often the warning signs are missed.

Much like FAST for stroke, F.L.A.M.E.S. is designed for the public and non-specialist clinicians alike, helping ensure that fewer families experience the devastating delay that encephalitis can bring.

I urge my network to:
1️⃣ Spread F.L.A.M.E.S. - digital and printable resources are ready to share: http://www.encephalitis.info/FLAMES
2️⃣ Support the World Encephalitis Day Appeal - aiming to raise £50,000 to fund awareness, research, and support for those affected: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/worldencephalitisday2026

Let’s work together to ensure rapid recognition and better outcomes for everyone impacted by encephalitis.

ENCEPHALITIS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES F.L.A.M.E.S. 🔥🧠

A life‑saving awareness initiative - led by our community ❤️

F.L.A.M.E.S. reflects the urgent neurological signs that the general public and non-specialist acute medics should be aware of to help recognise encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) earlier.

F.L.A.M.E.S. stands for Flu-like Symptoms, Loss of Consciousness, Acute Headache, Memory Problems, Emotional/Behavioural Changes, Seizures. These are the symptoms most commonly found in both infectious and autoimmune causes of encephalitis. 🤒💥🚨

Like Act FAST for stroke, F.L.A.M.E.S. is designed to help people recognise the common symptoms of all types of encephalitis and act quickly. We know that earlier recognition saves lives and improves outcomes - and too often, that opportunity is missed. Our ambition is to see F.L.A.M.E.S. displayed in schools, hospitals, GP clinics, and community spaces, helping ensure that fewer families experience the shock, delay, and devastation that encephalitis so often brings. Every 20 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world is diagnosed with encephalitis. The speed of that diagnosis can save - or change - their life. ⏱️🌍

We need your help today 🙏

1. Spread F.L.A.M.E.S.
👉 We have created a full bank of digital and printable resources, download and share today: http://www.encephalitis.info/FLAMES
If you would like printed materials posted to you, please contact us and we would be very happy to help.

2. Help ignite our World Encephalitis Day Appeal 💙
Our appeal aims to raise £50,000, our biggest ever appeal target, by World Encephalitis Day. Could you consider a £10 donation to help us continue to raise awareness, drive research and provide support to people impacted by encephalitis across the world?
Pledge your support today at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/worldencephalitisday2026

16/02/2026

Resident doctors have been facing spiralling competition ratios and narrowing training pathways for too long, many left wondering if there’s a place for them in the NHS.

In my article below, I explain why the new Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill is a positive step, supporting UK graduates while respecting the vital contribution of international doctors.

Proud of the role played by the Royal College of Physicians in getting us back on track

Read my full thoughts 👇

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/copy-fixing-bottleneck-specialist-medical-training-tom-pgise

13/02/2026

I’m pleased to share the latest The Pandemic Institute newsletter, highlighting our progress in strengthening pandemic preparedness.

In 2025, we awarded over £700,000 in research funding, launched global partnerships including Liverpool–Hong Kong and ASEAN-UK Health Security, strengthened diagnostic capacity in Malawi, and advanced public engagement initiatives addressing health stigma. Our teams also contributed landmark publications on avian flu and Marburg virus.

Read the full newsletter and stay connected with our work: https://mailchi.mp/127db09c89d5/newsletter-from-the-pandemic-institute-14187870?e=[UNIQID

11/02/2026

Check out the The Scouse Scientist Holly Ellis if you want to see a marvellous role model on International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

And after that why not look up some of these other brilliant female scientists from around the world who I have had the pleasure of working with over the years:

Patricia C. Sequeira - Virologist in Brazil
Louise Kenny - Women's health, Faculty head, Liverpool
Priscilla Rupali - Infectious diseases, CMC Vellore
Netravathi M - Neurologist NIMHANS, Bangalore
Laura Benjamin - HIV and stroke, UCL and Africa
Jane Cardosa - Virology pioneer in Malaysia
Sylviane Defres - Clinical infectious diseases, Royal Hospital, Liverpool
Rachel Kneen - Paediatric Neurology, Liverpool
Mumtaz Patel - Renal Physician, RCP President
Jo Fothergill - Microbiomes, Liverpool
Kiran T. Thakur - Brain Infections, Colombia, NYC
Hilary Williams - Oncologist, Wales
Dr Ava Easton MBE - Encephalitis International CEO
Helen McShane - Vaccine researcher

(I could go on, there are many more, but I must get to work)

11K Followers, 2,000 Following, 228 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Holly Ellis ()