Our research laboratories seek to understand the interaction between the immune system and the central nervous system in different types of encephalitis and meningitis. These efforts include a unique autoantibody discovery pipeline that leverages multiple techniques, including phage display, immunohistochemistry and cell-based assays.

Building on our work developing metagenomic sequencing to detect DNA and RNA from a huge range of neurologic infections, we are continuing to improve infectious disease diagnostics with antibody detection methods and learning from the unique immune responses that our bodies have against different types of pathogens. We are also working to make these advanced diagnostic techniques available in resource poor environments through collaborations in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Collaborative research between the Pleasure and Wilson labs is developing novel models to understand the pathophysiology of antibody associated autoimmune encephalitis. The initial efforts are focused on the circuit effects of anti-NMDAR antibodies, and will pursue similar studies in other antibody associated syndromes.

We are engaged in many studies to develop new therapies for complex infectious or autoimmune causes of encephalitis or meningitis. See our Clinical Trials page for the studies currently recruiting participants.

We are also working on therapeutics for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a devastating condition caused by the JC polyomavirus affecting immunocompromised patients. The best treatment involves early diagnosis and restoration of immune function, especially T cells.

Unfortunately, this disease is often fatal in patients for whom immune function cannot be restored. Initially funded by the Weill Neurohub and now by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, we are collaborating with the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, the Innovative Genomics Institute, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to create and test designer T cells that can effectively and specifically treat PML. We hope that this treatment strategy will also prove useful for other severe neuroviral infections and also provide targeted treatment for autoimmune encephalitis.