Home| Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neuroimmunology & Consultant Neurologist (Hon) |
Contact details:
| Tel: | +44 20 7377 2533 |
| Fax: | +44 20 7377 7033 |
| Email: | k.schmierer@qmul.ac.uk |
| Address: | Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, |
Biography
I joined the Neuroimmunology Group at the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science (Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry [BLT-SMD]) in October 2009 following award of a Clinical Senior Lectureship by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). After undergraduate studies at the Free University Berlin and the Hebrew University Jerusalem I received my training in neurology at the Charité, Humboldt University Berlin, between 1996 and 2001. I then moved to London to pursue a career in academic neurology, most recently (prior to joining BLT-SMD) as a Wellcome Clinical Fellow & Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the UCL Institute of Neurology & The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery.
Research Activity
I have a special interest in demyelinating diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). My research aims at developing and validating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to better understand MS pathogenesis, improve monitoring of MS treatment trials and management of patients with MS in clinical practice. I have led research that underpinned the establishment of an MRI measure for myelin (magnetization transfer ratio, MTR), which is now being used in clinical trials of people with MS. I have been awarded several prizes for my work, most recently in 2009 by the European Committe for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Currently, my research focuses on the relationship between myelin and neuro-axonal pathology in MS, and on changes affecting the cortical grey matter using high-field (3T – 9.4T) MRI and quantitative histology. My further interests include atypical manifestations of demyelination, gene expression in MS, and clinical trials.
Key Publications
• Schmierer K, et al. High field (9.4 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging of multiple sclerosis cortical grey matter lesions. Brain 2010;133:858-67.
• Fisniku LK, et al. Magnetisation transfer ratio abnormalities reflect clinically relevant grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2009;15:668-77.
• Schmierer K, et al.Direct visualization of remyelination in multiple sclerosis using T2 weighted high-field MRI. Neurology 2009;72:472.
• Kappos L, et al. Oral fumarate (BG00012) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: results of a phase 2b study. Lancet 2008;372:1463–72.
• Schmierer K, et al. Quantitative magnetic resonance of post mortem multiple sclerosis brain before and after fixation. Magn Reson Med 2008;59:268-77.
• Schmierer K, et al. Diffusion tensor imaging of post mortem multiple sclerosis brain. Neuroimage 2007;35:467-77.
• Schmierer K, et al. Quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in postmortem multiple sclerosis brain. J Magn Reson Imaging 2007;26:41-51.
• Schmierer K, et al. Magnetization transfer ratio and myelin in postmortem multiple sclerosis brain. Ann Neurol. 2004;56:407-15.
• Schmierer K, et al. Progressive change in primary progressive multiple sclerosis normal-appearing white matter: a serial diffusion magnetic resonance imaging study. Mult Scler 2004;10:182-7.
• Mottershead JP, et al. High field MRI correlates of myelin content and axonal density in multiple sclerosis--a post-mortem study of the spinal cord. J Neurol. 2003;250:1293-301.
