Dr Peter Foley (MRCP Neurology, PhD)

Consultant Neurologist, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer

Background

Research roles:

Invisible symptoms (such as pain, fatigue and others) can be a major source of distress for people with neurological conditions and are extremely common. Yet often we do not know why they happen, and how they are related to the underlying neurological condition.

I completed a PhD analysing the role of brain mechanisms in the modulation of neuropathic pain, in people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. This multidisciplinary research used various methods including neuroimaging and neuropsychological asesssments, and was carried out in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

I am developing a programme of research focused on difficult symptoms in neurological disorders, including pain. I am interested in trying to work out why difficult symptoms occur, what they tell us about the underlying neurological condition, and ultimately what can be done to help people with these distressing problems.

 

Clinical Roles:

I am a consultant neurologist in NHS Lothian. My clinical training was in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. Roles include general neurology, acute/on-call, as well as specialty clinics in multiple sclerosis and Huntingtons disease.

Qualifications

PhD

MRCP (Neurology)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences

Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Research summary

Principal current research projects:

 

Octopus: trial platform for progressive multiple sclerosis (PI)

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/research/explore-our-research/research-we-fund/search-our-research-projects/octopus

 

FutureMS: Scottish multicentre observational study in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (co-investigator)

https://www.annerowlingclinic.org/research-trials/find-project/futurems-phase-2

 

Enroll-HD: International cohort study in Huntingtons Disease (PI)

https://www.enroll-hd.org/

 

HealthE-RND: International quality of life study in Huntingtons Disease (PI)

https://healthe-rnd.eu/about-us/

 

Other research projects:

Edinburgh brain and tissue bank (interested patients can be referred)

https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sciences/research/edinburgh-brain-and-tissue-bank

 

DIMES multicentre audit of MS diagnosis (Lothian liaison consultant)

https://nansig.org/dimes/

 

iMark-HD (Peripheral referring site for this Kings College London-based observational and imaging study in Huntingtons Disease)

https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03434548

 

 

Affiliated research centres

In the press

BBC Scotland television "Reporting Scotland" broadcast 20th Sep 2023 - reporter Elizabeth Quigley - report on the Octopus trial platform for progressive MS in Scotland

BBC Scotland radio "Good Morning Scotland" broadcast 21st Sep 2023 - reporter Elizabeth Quigley - report on the Octopus trial platform for progressive MS in Scotland