The Encephalitis Podcast Ep 60 This podcast episode is about sleep and encephalitis. Sleep difficulties can be a symptom of encephalitis as well as a potentially long-term after-effect. Prav is joined by Dr. David Lee. Dr Lee is a chartered psychologist and chartered scientist who has been researching sleep and the psycho-behavioral treatment of insomnia for the last 20 years. He holds memberships with the World Sleep Society, the British Sleep Society, the Institute of Occupational Safety and H...
Nov 26, 2025•34 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, Prav talks to Wady a patient advocate, music educator, singer-songwriter and survivor of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Here is a link to Wady's music https://youtu.be/btoaGoXLi1k -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/support If you would like to stay up to date with our ...
Oct 29, 2025•20 min•Ep. 59
Encephalitis Podcast Episode 58 In this episode, Prav talks to Kenny Thoms the Co-Founder, Director & Specialist at NeuroPhysio in Glasgow. Kenny works with individuals recovering from neurological events or those managing long-term neurological conditions. They discuss neurological physiotherapy and rehabilitation including the specific neurological challenges that encephalitis survivors face. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Oct 15, 2025•25 min•Ep. 58
In this episode, Prav is joined by a mother who is changing the world! Not just for her own child, but for so many others. Kate Fisher, the founder of Milkshakes for Marleigh - a blood donation initiative in Australia - talks about her daughter's experience of encephalitis and how she now commits her life to blood donor advocacy. Kate founded Milkshakes for Marleigh after her daughter was diagnosed with seronegative paediatric autoimmune encephalitis and relied on blood donors for her treatment....
Sep 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 57
In this episode, Prav talks to Dr Sophie Binks about genetics and DNA in relation to autoimmune encephalitis. Asking the question 'can genetics play a part in the prevalence of encephalitis?' Sophie is a Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Neurology SpR at Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford. She is also on the Scientific Advisory Panel for Encephalitis International. Her research focuses on clinical and genetic aspects of autoimmune encephalitis. If you have been affe...
Sep 04, 2025•22 min•Ep. 56
The Encephalitis Podcast Ep 55 - Relationships after encephalitis with Dr Giles Yeats In this episode, Prav talks about relationships after encephalitis with Doctor Giles Yeates. Relationships sit at the intersection of our personal and professional lives, shaping our identity, providing support during times of isolation, and often significantly transformed after encephalitis. Dr Yeates is a consultant clinical neuropsychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuro rehabilitation. He has wo...
Jul 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 55
In this lived experience episode of the Encephalitis Podcast, Prav talks to Pauline - a volunteer for Encephalitis International. Pauline shares her own story of LGi1 encephalitis, life as a nurse and about being a support volunteer for the online peer groups. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/support If you would like to stay up to date with our news and events please sign up to our mailing list here: https://ww...
Jul 09, 2025•47 min•Ep. 54
It this episode of The Encephalitis Podcast, Prav is asking Professor Sarosh Irani the question 'What's new in autoimmune encephalitis?' Professor Irani is Professor of Neurology and Neurosciences at the Mayo Clinic, Florida, former professor of Autoimmune Neurology at the University of Oxford, and adjunct professor at the University of Southern Denmark. He was part of the team that discovered LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies and has cared for many patients with LGI1, CASPR2 NMDA, and other forms of a...
Jun 24, 2025•22 min•Ep. 53
In this episode, Prav talks to Trevor and his mum, Lois from Sydney. Trevor shares his lived experience of herpes simplex virus encephalitis. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/support If you would like to stay up to date with our news and events please sign up to our mailing list here: https://www.encephalitis.info/keep-in-touch Support our work providing help and assistance to families affected by encephalitis b...
May 28, 2025•31 min•Ep. 52
In this episode, Prav talks to Katy Peters about travel health and encephalitis. Katy is an immunisation and travel health specialist nurse who founded 360 Health Limited, a London vaccination clinic in 2013. A member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, where she qualified with with distinction and was awarded the Cameron Lockie Prize for Academic Excellence. Katy was previously chairwoman of the British Global Travel Health Association. ...
May 14, 2025•33 min•Ep. 51
In this episode, Prav talks to Sue Ann who was diagnosed with West Nile Virus encephalitis in 2023. She shares her lived experience story. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/support If you would like to stay up to date with our news and events please sign up to our mailing list here: https://www.encephalitis.info/keep-in-touch Support our work providing help and assistance to families affected by encephalitis by v...
Apr 26, 2025•25 min•Ep. 50
In this special Legacy episode of the Encephalitis Podcast, Prav talks to our lived experience and community member Wunmi. Wunmi had encephalitis in 2017. Here, she shares her story and talks about legacies and leaving a gift in her will. To learn more about wills or leaving a legacy gift to Encephalitis International visit: https://www.encephalitis.info/gift-in-will/. This page also contains information about how UK residents can write their will for free, with our partners at Farewill. https:/...
Apr 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 49
In this episode, Prav - Senior Medical Writer for Encephalitis International - talks to Dr Stacy Clardy about clinical trials to to find out more about this important aspect of developing treatments for encephalitis. Doctor Clardy is both clinical and research faculty in the Division of Neuroimmunology and Autoimmune Neurology within the Department of Neurology at the University of Utah and the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Hospital. Her clinical specialisation and research focus is in the fie...
Mar 19, 2025•57 min•Ep. 48
In this episode Dr Ava Easton is joined by Dr Bhagteshwar Singh talking about improving the diagnosis and treatment of encephalitis in low to middle income countries. Dr Bhagteshwar Singh is back in the UK, having been based at Christian Medical College in Vallor, India, and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi in the last year. He's also a clinical research fellow and specialty registrar in infectious diseases and general internal medicine at the University of Liverpool in the U...
Mar 12, 2025•40 min•Ep. 47
In this episode, Emma Collins, Patient and Public Involvement Manager at Encephalitis International, talks to Dr Ava Easton, CEO at Encephalitis International and Chair of the PPI panel, about improving the work of patient and public involvement (PPI) driven by Encephalitis International in a study that looked at improving diagnosis and treatment of encephalitis in low-to-middle income countries. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www....
Mar 10, 2025•23 min•Ep. 46
In this community story episode of The Encephalitis Podcast, Prav, Senior Medical Writer, meets with Team Encephalitis Volunteer, Diane. Diane, 22, from London. is a final year Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience undergraduate student, aspiring clinical neuropsychologist, speaker, social entrepreneur, encephalitis overcomer and volunteer. Diane had auto-immune encephalitis in 2018, when she was 15 which encompassed months in a semi-coma state where she couldn’t talk, walk, eat or see due to c...
Mar 05, 2025•18 min•Ep. 45
In this podcast, Prav Prathapan from Encephalitis International is joined by Dr Gareth Lipunga, from Malawi. They will be talking about the challenges that low to middle income countries (LMIC) face when it comes to encephalitis. Dr Lipunga is a medical doctor trained at the University of Malawi's College of Medicine with a postgraduate MSC in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.e...
Feb 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 44
In this World Encephalitis Day special, Dr Ava Easton is joined by Doctor Tarun Dua, head of the Brain Health Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO). In exciting news for World Encephalitis Day 2025, the World Health Organization are releasing a technical brief on encephalitis. Dr Dua is here to discuss this and a bit more on the work of the World Health Organization. Useful Link - the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on epilepsy and other neurological disorders - https://www.who...
Feb 19, 2025•19 min•Ep. 43
We are delighted to welcome Bethany Facer and Dr Brendan Sargent to The Encephalitis Podcast. Beth and Brendan talk to host Prav Prathapan about recent research on the neurological effects of Covid-19, including cognitive deficits and long-term effects, and the potential implications for other diseases. Beth and Brendan also discussed the Covid-19 Clinical Neuroscience Study – a £2.3 million research study looking at the acute neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of Covid-19. This pod...
Feb 06, 2025•26 min•Ep. 42
Please note that this episode was recorded in November 2023. In this episode of The Encephalitis Podcast, Dr Ava Easton is joined by Dr James Sejvar for a discussion around climate change, and how it's affecting our risk for deadly infectious diseases, such as West Nile encephalitis or Japanese encephalitis. Dr Sejvar is a Neuroepidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh and, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. At the time of the podcast, he led the Neuroepidemiology Unit at CDC’s D...
Jan 22, 2025•26 min•Ep. 41
One of our Team Encephalitis volunteers, Nicole, talks to Senior Medical Writer, Praveen, about her lived experience of encephalitis. Nicole was diagnosed with Anti-DPPX receptor encephalitis when she was 20 years old while she was at University. This lead to her needing to abandon her studies to recover. Luckily, Nicole is recovering well and is about to start the final semester of her course just two years later. Follow Encephalitis International: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/encephaliti...
Dec 19, 2024•21 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, Dr Ava Easton (CEO of Encephalitis International) is joined by Professor Jonathan Evans - a distinguished expert in clinical neuropsychology at the university of Glasgow. Professor Jon Evans discusses the world of memory and its intersection with encephalitis including the difference between long term, short term memory and false memory, how it's referred to in the medical world and any available support aids. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some sup...
Nov 07, 2024•43 min•Ep. 39
Dr Ava Easton, CEO of Encephalitis International interviews the director of the documentary Shot in the Arm, Scott Hamilton Kennedy . Talking about vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Find more about the film here www.shotinthearm.com and for more information about vaccine preventable forms of encephalitis please visit www.encephalitis.info/vaccine-preventable-encephalitis . If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/co...
Sep 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 38
Dr Ava Easton was joined by Professor Michael Wilson from the Centre of Encephalitis and Meningitis at UCSF to talk about metagenomics and encephalitis. For more information about Professor Wilson's work please visit https://encephalitis.ucsf.edu/ If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/contact-our-helpline/ Our support groups are listed here https://www.encephalitis.info/online-support-meetings If you would like to do...
Aug 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 37
TRIGGER WARNING: In this podcast episode, Dr Ava Easton CEO Encephalitis International, talks with Prof Arun Venkatesan about the difficult topic of death from encephalitis. This is something which will be sadly and unfortunately familiar to many families and friends who's loved ones have fallen ill from this condition. If you have been affected by encephalitis and are in need of some support, please visit https://www.encephalitis.info/contact-our-helpline/ Our support groups are listed here htt...
Aug 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 36
In our final episode of 2023, Dr Ava Easton, host of the Encephalitis Podcast, talks to Phillippa Chapman, Deputy Chief Executive of Encephalitis international, and Bella Bardswell, co-founder of Stellafai. The trio talk about the monumental decision to change the name of the Encephalitis Society to Encephalitis International, the reasons and thinking behind the strategic evolution, and what comes next as we celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2024. For more information about Encephalitis Internat...
Dec 14, 2023•42 min•Ep. 35
Dr Lance Turtle joins The Encephalitis Podcast to talk about the Japanese encephalitis virus and its impact on Australia over the past 12 months. Lance is a Reader and Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at the University of Liverpool. As always, the questions are asked by our host, Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society. The Encephalitis Podcast is available on all podcast channels and on our YouTube channel. For more information about Dr Lance Turtle: https...
Mar 23, 2023•32 min•Ep. 34
Welcome to a special World Encephalitis Day edition of the Encephalitis Podcast. Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society, is joined by Dr Thomas Pollak, from Kings College London, and Dr Jesus Ramirez-Bermudez, of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, to talk about some two new important research papers around mental health and encephalitis. An important note for our viewers and listeners: this podcast will be touching on some difficult areas, includi...
Feb 22, 2023•41 min•Ep. 33
Best-selling author Susannah Cahalan joins host Dr Ava Easton for a special World Encephalitis Day edition of The Encephalitis Podcast. Ten years ago, Susannah published Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, the award-winning memoir and New York Times bestseller, which quickly become a Bible for members of the encephalitis community and many more people around the world. Brain on Fire follows Susannah’s struggle with encephalitis and, in particular, her diagnosis and recovery. It was later develop...
Feb 16, 2023•30 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, Dr Ava Easton talks to author and motivational speaker Jackie Stebbins. In 2017, the former trial lawyer from Bismarck, North Dakota, became ill with encephalitis and experienced a host of difficulties, such as insomnia, paranoia, hallucinations and memory loss. In the summer of 2018, after being voluntarily hospitalized in the psychiatric ward, she was finally diagnosed with seronegative autoimmune encephalitis. To help her recovery, she began writing and speaking about her jou...
Jan 13, 2023•32 min•Ep. 31
