Dr
Gavin
Brittain

MBBS, MRCP(UK), PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

Gavin Brittain
Gavin Brittain
Profile picture of Gavin Brittain
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 51ݶ 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 (). 

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

  • Baig SS, Illingworth C, McQueen B, Gibbons A, Ravenscroft J, Morton C, Brittain G, Butters E, Di Lonardo Burr S, Ali AN , Majid A et al (2026) . Brain Sciences, 16(2).
  • Buekers J, Chernova J, Koch S, Marchena J, Lemos J, Becker C, Bonci T, Braun J, Brittain G, Buckley E , Caulfield B et al (2025) . International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22(1).
  • Muraro PA, Kazmi M, De Matteis E, Brittain G, Mariottini A, Nicholas R, Silber E, Mehra V, Gabriel I, Ciccarelli O , Lee J et al (2025) . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
  • 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) . Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
  • 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) . British Journal of Haematology.
  • 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) . JMIR Formative Research, 9.
  • 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) . 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) . 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) . Neurology, 104(7_Supplement_1).
  • Brittain G, Roldan E, Alexander T, Saccardi R, Snowden JA, Sharrack B & Greco R (2024) . Annals of Neurology, 96(3), 441-452.
  • 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) . Neurology, 102(7_supplement_1).
  • Brittain G, Cooper C, Glover R, Loban A, Muraro P, Papaioannou D, Roldan E, Sharrack B & Snowden J (2024) . 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) . BMJ Open, 14(2).
  • 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) . Scientific Reports, 14(1).
  • 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) . 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) . Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 455, 121832-121832.
  • Brittain G, Roldan E, Ismail A, Khalifa M, John Snowden A & Sharrack B (2023) . 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) . Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25.
  • Brittain G, Coles AJ, Giovannoni G, Muraro PA, Palace J, Petrie J, Roldan E, Scolding NJ, Snowden JA & Sharrack B (2023) . Practical Neurology, 23(2), 139-145.
  • 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) . Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 19.
  • 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) . PLoS ONE, 17(10).
  • Brittain G, McKee E, Siripurapu R, Stockley H & Langheinrich T (2022) . Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 52(3), 263-264.
  • Cencioni MT, Genchi A, Brittain G, de Silva TI, Sharrack B, Snowden JA, Alexander T, Greco R & Muraro PA (2022) . Frontiers in Immunology, 12.
  • 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) . npj Digital Medicine, 4(1).
  • Fernandes L, Allen CM, Williams T, Tallantyre E, Evangelou N, Chataway J & Ford HL (2021) . 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) . British Medical Journal, 10(7).
  • Spyropoulos A, Petherham K, McSorley N, Brittain G, Guadagno J & Duddy M (2014) . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 85(10), e4.55-e4.
  • Brittain G, Long M, Buckley E, Becker C, Buekers J, de las Heras M, Armengol C, Koch S, Braun J, Caufield B , Comi G et al () . Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
  • Brittain G, Buckley E, Lanfranchi V, Long M, Tsaktanis T, Rothhammer V, Hansen C, Stürner KH, Maetzler W, Rochester L , Sutcliffe L et al () . Trials.
  • 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 () . Scientific Reports, 14(1).

Book chapters

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

Conference proceedings

  • Buckley E, Brittain G, Wassall M, Gassner H, Brichetto G, Leocani L, Costa GD, Rochester L, Aymerich JG, Becker C , Rothhammer V et al (2025) Smouldering MS is detectable through real world mobility monitoring. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 31(3) (pp 335-335)
  • 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) , 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) , 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) , 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.