External Advisory Group
Marc de Baets
Marc de Baets is Professor Emeritus of Neuroimmunology at Maastricht University and former leader of the Neuroimmunology Group at Maastricht University and the Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) of Hasselt University. His research has focused on the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, particularly myasthenia gravis, and on the mechanisms by which autoantibodies cause neurological disease. He has made seminal contributions to the understanding of IgG4-mediated autoimmunity, including studies demonstrating the biological significance of IgG4 Fab-arm exchange and the pathogenic properties of MuSK autoantibodies. His work has helped establish fundamental concepts underlying IgG4 autoantibody function and has contributed to the development of antibody-based therapeutic approaches for myasthenia gravis and related disorders. Throughout his career, he has combined clinical neurology with translational immunology, mentoring numerous investigators who have become leaders in the field of neuroimmunology and IgG4-mediated diseases.
Amelia Evoli
Amelia Evoli is Professor of Neurology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and a senior neurologist at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS. She has devoted her career to the study and management of myasthenia gravis and other disorders of neuromuscular transmission, establishing one of Europe's leading clinical and research programs in this field. Her research has focused on the clinical, immunological, and therapeutic aspects of myasthenia gravis, with particular emphasis on patients with antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), an IgG4-mediated autoimmune disease. She has made major contributions to defining the clinical phenotype, prognosis, and treatment strategies for MuSK myasthenia gravis and has played a leading role in developing national and international recommendations for the diagnosis and management of the disease. Through her extensive clinical and translational research, she has helped advance understanding of antibody-mediated neuromuscular disorders and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
Nils Erik Gilhus
Nils Erik Gilhus is Professor (emeritus) in neurology at University of Bergen, Norway since 1987 and a senior researcher at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. He was a senior consultant in neurology from 1986, and previous dean and head of department at these institutions. Gilhus has during many years had a leadership role in national and international scientific and health organizations such as European Academy of Neurology, European Federation of Neurological Societies, European School of Neuroimmunology, Norwegian Brain Council, Norwegian Neurological Society, and Norwegian Medical Association. Gilhus has published more than 500 scientific papers, mainly on neuroimmunology and neuroepidemiology, centred on myasthenia gravis. He has supervised more than 30 accomplished PhDs and been a partner of 6 EU research projects, coordinating three of them.
Paul Parren
Paul W.H.I. Parren is a molecular immunologist and biotechnology entrepreneur whose work has significantly advanced the understanding and therapeutic application of human antibodies. He is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Gyes and is a tenured professor at Leiden University Medical Center. He has held additional leadership positions in antibody research and development in both academia and industry. His research has focused on antibody structure-function relationships, antibody engineering, the mechanisms by which different immunoglobulin subclasses mediate disease and protection and therapeutic antibody drug development. He has made pioneering contributions to the study of IgG4 antibodies, including elucidating the process of Fab-arm exchange that distinguishes IgG4 from other antibody subclasses and generates bispecific IgG4 antibodies in-vivo. His work has provided key insights into the role of IgG4 in autoimmune disease and has informed the development of innovative antibody-based therapeutics. He translated his insights in basic IgG4 biology into the leading bispecific antibody technology DuoBody, which is used in four approved therapeutic antibody products and many others in clinical development. Through his scientific leadership and translational research, he has helped bridge fundamental immunology and clinical application, shaping the modern field of therapeutic antibodies.
Lidia Sabater
Lidia Sabater is a neuroscientist researcher at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain, specializing in neuroimmunology and antibody-mediated disorders of the central nervous system. Her work combines translational, molecular, and animal models to advance understanding of autoimmune encephalopathies and related neurological diseases. She has led research projects investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of neural autoantibodies and their role in neurodegeneration, contributing significantly to the identification of novel diseases. Her research has helped bridge fundamental immunology and clinical practice, improving the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune neurological disorders. In addition, she serves as coordinator of the MSCA Doctoral Network IGNITION, fostering international collaboration and training the next generation of researchers in neuroimmunology.
Angela Vincent
Angela Vincent is Emeritus Professor of Neuroimmunology. She established and led the Oxford University Neuroimmunology Service for 25 years until 2016, and was Head of Clinical Neurology (2005-2008) and an associate editor of Brain (2004–2013). Her research includes clinical and serological studies on patients with myasthenia gravis and acquired disorders of the CNS associated with antibodies to receptors, ion channels and associated proteins. These include IgG4 antibodies to MuSK, CASPR2 and LGI1. She also pioneered studies on maternal antibodies to fetal-specific proteins causing developmental disorders. Although medically-qualified she is not a neurologist; but has received several national and international awards for contributions to clinical neurology and neuropsychiatry.
