Ava Easton

Last updated
Ava Easton
Dr Ava Easton.jpg
Nationality British
Scientific career
Fields Encephalitis, Acquired Brain Injury, Narrative medicine, Global Health, Patient and Public Involvement.
Institutions Encephalitis International, The University of Liverpool Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology
Thesis The Role of Written Narratives in the Recovery of People Affected by Encephalitis  (2014)
Doctoral advisor Karl Atkin

Ava Easton is a health scientist and researcher who specialises in encephalitis, acquired brain injury and narrative medicine, and is considered a world expert in her field of Encephalitis patient outcomes and quality of life. [1] [2] [3] [4] She is the current Chief Executive of Encephalitis International, [5] [3] a non-profit organisation which provides support and resources for those affected by the neurological disease of Encephalitis, [6] [7] [8] and collaborates with various organisations on research into the disease. [9] [10] [8] [11]

Contents

Education

Easton studied Applied Social Sciences at the Open University at the age of 33, [1] and went on to complete a PhD with the University of York in 2014, on the role of narratives in encephalitis recovery. [2] [12] [13]

Career

Easton has been Chief Executive of Encephalitis International since 2011, [2] having begun work with them in 2000, [4] as Support Service Coordinator. [3] She was made an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Liverpool in 2014. [1] [2] [14] [13]

In 2014, Easton founded World Encephalitis Day, [15] [16] a global awareness day to raise awareness of the condition, and provide resources and support to those affected. [3] [17] [18] In 2017, the charity won a Charity Times Award for Charity of the Year with an income of less than £1 million. [19] [20] [21] Also in 2014, 2017, and in 2019, Easton was awarded a Social CEO award, supported by The Guardian newspaper, marking her as one of the top 30 charity leaders on social media. [22] [23] In 2019, World Encephalitis Day won a Third Sector Award for Communications Campaign of the Year, [24] and Easton was given a Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Award. [3] [25]

She is a member of the Global Forum on Neurology and COVID-19, [14] and has been Chair of the Patient, Public and Community Engagement and Involvement Panel, on the taskforce for the COVID-19 NeuroResearch Coalition, since 2020. [26] [27] Additionally in 2020, Easton became a member of the Steering Committee for the National Surveillance Programme on Neurological Complications of COVID-19 (COVID-CNS). [28] She also forms part of the associated group CoroNerve, [29] [30] [31] and was also appointed as the Head of Patient and Public Involvement for the programme. [28] [32] Further, Easton is the Chair of the Patient and Public Involvement Panel for the Brain Infections Research Group of the Global Health Network. [33] She is an Ambassador for the European Brain Council, [34] and a member of many other not-for-profit organisations, including the Royal Society of Medicine, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, the American Academy of Neurology, and the European Academy of Neurology. [35] [36]

Easton also lectures at the University of Glasgow School of Medicine, [37] and the University of Liverpool Brain Infections Group, [32] as well as a consultant for media on encephalitis and brain injuries, most recently for the UK television program Hollyoaks on Channel 4. [38] [39]

Research and publications

Easton's research is primarily focused around the neurological disease of Encephalitis, [40] [41] [42] but she also works within the broader realms of neurology, [43] [44] the non-profit sector, [10] [45] [46] healthcare outcomes [47] [48] and patient engagement. [49] [50] [45] She has contributed extensively into work on the epidemiology of Encephalitis, [51] [52] including its causes, clinical manifestation and disease management. [40] [53] [54] [55] Her work particularly concerns improving patient outcomes, [48] looking at the recovery and rehabilitation process of those with acquired brain injuries. [47] As well as researching the physical and cognitive effects of the condition, [56] she also explores the social impacts on survivors [47] [50] and their relatives and caregivers, [57] [58] [59] with a focus on improving research into the disease and enhancing patients' quality of care and support available. [45] [46]

Her specialist field of research concerns the role that personal experience-based accounts of acquired brain injuries can play in advancing knowledge of such conditions, a concept referred to as "neuro-narratives." [41] [60] [61] Easton's first book, 'Life After Encephalitis' was published by Psychology Press in 2016. [41] The book documents the journeys of affected people, and featuring accounts from survivors and memoirs from bereaved relatives. [41] [62] [63] Easton explores the ways in which their accounts can aid professionals in deepening their understanding of the disease, and be used to inform care and support provided to those affected. [41] [63]

Recently, she has also been involved in research across the broader field of neurology, including studies into the neurological effects of COVID-19. [14] [31] [64] [65]

Her work has been published in The Lancet, [10] [58] [66] The Journal of Neurology, [67] BMJ, [68] Nursing Standard, [40] [69] Clinical Medicine [54] the British Journal of Hospital Medicine, [42] the Journal of Infection, [70] [71] Social Science & Medicine [50] and the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. [28] [31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ava Easton". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Life After Encephalitis". University of York. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Inspiring Communicator Awards 2019". CharityComms. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  4. 1 2 Long, Marianne (2021-07-26). "Spotlight On: Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society". Magazine for Ryedale and York - Advertising, News, Information. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  5. ↑ "Dr Ava Easton". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  6. ↑ "Our vision". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  7. ↑ "Encephalitis - Complications". nhs.uk. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  8. 1 2 "The Encephalitis Society". Brain Injury Group. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  9. ↑ "Research Summary". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  10. 1 2 3 Easton, Ava (2016-04-01). "Encephalitis: raising awareness and collaborating in research". The Lancet Neurology. 15 (4): 353. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(16)00059-4 . ISSN   1474-4422. PMID   26906966.
  11. ↑ "Liverpool leads new national encephalitis study - Articles - Research - University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  12. ↑ Easton, Ava (January 2014). "The Role of Written Narratives in the Recovery of People Affected by Encephalitis". PhD for the University of York.
  13. 1 2 "Malton charity chief honoured". York Press. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  14. 1 2 3 Beghi, Ettore; Michael, Benedict D.; Solomon, Tom; Westenberg, Erica; Winkler, Andrea S. (2021). "Approaches to Understanding COVID-19 and its Neurological Associations". Annals of Neurology. 89 (6): 1059–1067. doi:10.1002/ana.26076. ISSN   1531-8249. PMC   8250622 . PMID   33836104.
  15. ↑ "World Encephalitis Day". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  16. ↑ Morgan, Jules (March 2017). "Encephalitis: time to understand". The Lancet Neurology. 16 (3): 188. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(16)30393-3 . ISSN   1474-4422.
  17. ↑ "Charity launches new awareness campaign". York Press. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  18. ↑ Easton, Ava; Michael, Benedict D (March 2021). "An extraordinary World Encephalitis Day". The Lancet Neurology. 20 (3): 172. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00040-5. PMC   7906729 . PMID   33609471.
  19. ↑ "Charity Times Awards". www.charitytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  20. ↑ "Charity Times Awards 2017". Charity Times. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  21. ↑ "Congratulations to all 2017 Charity Times Awards Winners!". CharityJob. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  22. ↑ "Social CEO award for Ava". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  23. ↑ "2017's winners |". Social CEOs. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  24. ↑ "Third Sector Awards 2019: Communications Campaign of the Year - Encephalitis Society for World Encephalitis Day 2019". www.thirdsector.co.uk. September 19, 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  25. ↑ "Charity chief is honoured for her work". Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  26. ↑ "New global programme to target COVID-19 neurological disease - Articles - Coronavirus (COVID-19) - University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  27. ↑ Beghi, Ettore; Michael, Benedict D.; Solomon, Tom; Westenberg, Erica; Winkler, Andrea S.; Global COVID‐19 Neuro Research Coalition; Beghi, Ettore; Michael, Benedict D.; Solomon, Tom; Westenberg, Erica; Winkler, Andrea S. (June 2021). "Approaches to Understanding COVID ‐19 and its Neurological Associations". Annals of Neurology. 89 (6): 1059–1067. doi:10.1002/ana.26076. ISSN   0364-5134. PMC   8250622 . PMID   33836104.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. 1 2 3 Ellul, Mark; Varatharaj, Aravinthan; Nicholson, Timothy R.; Pollak, Thomas Arthur; Thomas, Naomi; Easton, Ava; Zandi, Michael S.; Manji, Hadi; Solomon, Tom; Carson, Alan; Turner, Martin R. (2020-08-01). "Defining causality in COVID-19 and neurological disorders". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 91 (8): 811–812. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2020-323667. ISSN   0022-3050. PMC   7299654 . PMID   32503883.
  29. ↑ "CoroNerve". www.coronerve.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  30. ↑ Glavin, Diarmuid; Kelly, Denise; Wood, Greta Karen; McCausland, Beth MS; Ellul, Mark Alexander; Varatharaj, Aravinthan; Galea, Ian; Thomas, Rhys Huw; Michael, Benedict Daniel; Gallen, Brian (September 2021). "COVID-19 Encephalitis with SARS-CoV-2 Detected in Cerebrospinal Fluid Presenting as a Stroke Mimic". Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. 30 (9): 105915. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105915. ISSN   1052-3057. PMC   8165128 . PMID   34217071.
  31. 1 2 3 Tooren, Harriett Van Den; Ellul, Mark A.; Davies, Nicholas WS; Easton, Ava; Vincent, Angela; Solomon, Tom; Michael, Benedict Daniel (2020-11-01). "Standing on the shoulders of giants: 100 years of neurology and epidemic infections". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 91 (11): 1129–1131. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2020-324366. ISSN   0022-3050. PMC   7569382 . PMID   32958721.
  32. 1 2 "Major new global brain infections project launched - Articles - Research - University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  33. ↑ "Brain Infections Global UK Team". The Global Health Network. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  34. ↑ "EBC Ambassadors". European Brain Council. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  35. ↑ "Full & Corresponding Members". ean.org. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  36. ↑ "About Me". Ava Easton. Archived from the original on 2019-02-19. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  37. ↑ Easton, Ava (2020). "Rabies – a deadly, devastating, and contrary disease". Emporiatrics. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
  38. ↑ "Hollyoaks and encephalitis". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  39. ↑ "Hollyoaks storyline on encephalitis | The Children's Trust". www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  40. 1 2 3 Matata, Claire; Easton, Ava (2014-11-24). "Managing patients with encephalitis" . Nursing Standard. 30 (11): 50–60. doi:10.7748/ns.30.11.50.s47. PMID   26554998 . Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 Easton, Ava (2016). Easton, Ava (ed.). Life After Encephalitis | Taylor & Francis Group. Taylor & Francis. doi:10.4324/9781315726922. ISBN   9781315726922 . Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  42. 1 2 Frackowiak, Marta; Easton, Ava; Michael, Benedict D (2019-04-02). "Encephalitis". British Journal of Hospital Medicine. 80 (4): C50 –C52. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.4.C50 . ISSN   1750-8460. PMID   30951422.
  43. ↑ Varley, James; Easton, Ava (2020-07-01). "Navigating uncharted waters of neurology" . The Lancet Neurology. 19 (7): 572. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30114-9. ISSN   1474-4422. S2CID   219946888.
  44. ↑ Ellul, Mark A.; Benjamin, Laura; Singh, Bhagteshwar; Lant, Suzannah; Michael, Benedict Daniel; Easton, Ava; Kneen, Rachel; Defres, Sylviane; Sejvar, Jim; Solomon, Tom (2020-09-01). "Neurological associations of COVID-19". The Lancet Neurology. 19 (9): 767–783. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30221-0. ISSN   1474-4422. PMC   7332267 . PMID   32622375.
  45. 1 2 3 Easton, Ava; Atkin, Karl; Hare, Philippa (2007-08-01). "'A light in a very dark place': The role of a voluntary organisation providing support for those affected by encephalitis" (PDF). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. 17 (4–5): 638–647. doi:10.1080/09602010601155205. ISSN   0960-2011. PMID   17676539. S2CID   37027235.
  46. 1 2 Easton, Ava (2018-04-01). "Increasing understanding of encephalitis" . The Lancet Neurology. 17 (4): 301. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30077-2. ISSN   1474-4422. PMID   29477505. S2CID   5533178.
  47. 1 2 3 Turtle, Lance; Easton, Ava; Defres, Sylviane; Ellul, Mark; Bovill, Begona; Hoyle, Jim; Jung, Agam; Lewthwaite, Penny; Solomon, Tom (2019). "'More than devastating'—patient experiences and neurological sequelae of Japanese encephalitis§". Journal of Travel Medicine. 26 (7). doi:10.1093/jtm/taz064. ISSN   1708-8305. PMC   6792067 . PMID   31504712.
  48. 1 2 Yeshokumar, Anusha K.; Blum, Raia A.; Randell, Taylor; Jetté, Nathalie; Easton, Ava (2021-01-18). "Exploration of patient- and relative-reported outcomes of cognitive, emotional, and social function after encephalitis" . Brain Injury. 35 (2): 255–263. doi:10.1080/02699052.2020.1865567. ISSN   0269-9052. PMID   33356613. S2CID   229694297.
  49. ↑ Cooper, Jessie; Kierans, Ciara; Defres, Sylviane; Easton, Ava; Kneen, Rachel; Solomon, Tom (2016-03-09). "Diagnostic Pathways as Social and Participatory Practices: The Case of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0151145. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1151145C. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151145 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4784735 . PMID   26960197.
  50. 1 2 3 Atkin, Karl; Stapley, Sally; Easton, Ava (2010-07-01). "No one listens to me, nobody believes me: Self management and the experience of living with encephalitis" . Social Science & Medicine. 71 (2): 386–393. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.04.011. ISSN   0277-9536. PMID   20488605.
  51. ↑ White, Steven; Easton, Ava (2008-03-01). "Encephalitis: The broader spectrum" . British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 4 (3): 131–132. doi:10.12968/bjnn.2008.4.3.28816. ISSN   1747-0307.
  52. ↑ Easton, Ava; Atkin, Karl; Dowell, Elaine (2006-12-01). "Encephalitis, a service orphan: The need for more research and access to neuropsychology" . British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 2 (10): 488–492. doi:10.12968/bjnn.2006.2.10.22531. ISSN   1747-0307.
  53. ↑ Binks, Sophie N. M.; Veldsman, Michele; Easton, Ava; Leite, M. Isabel; Okai, David; Husain, Masud; Irani, Sarosh R. (2021-05-01). "Residual Fatigue and Cognitive Deficits in Patients After Leucine-Rich Glioma-Inactivated 1 Antibody Encephalitis". JAMA Neurology. 78 (5): 617–619. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.0477. ISSN   2168-6149. PMC   8008400 . PMID   33779685.
  54. 1 2 Ellul, Mark A.; Wood, Greta; Tooren, Harriet Van Den; Easton, Ava; Babu, Ashik; Michael, Benedict D. (2020-07-01). "Update on the diagnosis and management of autoimmune encephalitis". Clinical Medicine. 20 (4): 389–392. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0241. ISSN   1470-2118. PMC   7385764 . PMID   32675144.
  55. ↑ Iro, M. A.; Sadarangani, M.; Absoud, M.; Chong, W. K.; Clark, C. A.; Easton, A.; Gray, V.; Kneen, R.; Lim, M.; Pike, M.; Solomon, T. (2016-11-01). "ImmunoglobuliN in the Treatment of Encephalitis (IgNiTE): protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial". BMJ Open. 6 (11): e012356. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012356. ISSN   2044-6055. PMC   5129051 . PMID   27810972.
  56. ↑ Binks, Sophie N. M.; Veldsman, Michele; Easton, Ava; Leite, M. Isabel; Okai, David; Husain, Masud; Irani, Sarosh R. (2021-05-01). "Residual Fatigue and Cognitive Deficits in Patients After Leucine-Rich Glioma-Inactivated 1 Antibody Encephalitis". JAMA Neurology. 78 (5): 617–619. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.0477. ISSN   2168-6157. PMC   8008400 . PMID   33779685.
  57. ↑ Lemon, Jennifer; Cooper, Jessie; Defres, Sylviane; Easton, Ava; Sadarangani, Manish; Griffiths, Michael J.; Pollard, Andrew J.; Solomon, Tom; Kneen, Rachel (2019-09-16). "Understanding parental perspectives on outcomes following paediatric encephalitis: A qualitative study". PLOS ONE. 14 (9): e0220042. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1420042L. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220042 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6746349 . PMID   31525232.
  58. 1 2 Easton, Ava (December 2016). "A sister's graceful tribute" . The Lancet Neurology. 15 (13): 1312. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(16)30308-8. ISSN   1474-4422. S2CID   54431892.
  59. ↑ Tomlinson, Amanda R.; Blum, Raia A.; Jetté, Nathalie; Kwon, Churl-Su; Easton, Ava; Yeshokumar, Anusha K. (July 2020). "Assessment of care transitions and caregiver burden in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis" . Epilepsy & Behavior. 108: 107066. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107066. ISSN   1525-5050. PMID   32375097. S2CID   218486355.
  60. ↑ Easton, Ava; Atkin, Karl (2011-01-01). "Medicine and patient narratives" . Social Care and Neurodisability. 2 (1): 33–41. doi:10.5042/scn.2011.0082. ISSN   2042-0919.
  61. ↑ Morgan, Jules (2016-11-01). "Neuro-narrative contributions: the truth about encephalitis". The Lancet Neurology. 15 (12): 1212. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30091-6 . ISSN   1474-4422.
  62. ↑ "Life after Encephalitis". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  63. 1 2 ""Life After Encephalitis" a new book by Dr. Ava Easton". Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance. 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  64. ↑ "Charity takes part in Covid-19 research". York Press. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  65. ↑ Ross Russell, Amy L; Hardwick, Marc; et al. (1 July 2021). "Spectrum, risk factors and outcomes of neurological and psychiatric complications of COVID-19: a UK-wide cross-sectional surveillance study". Brain Communications. 3 (3): fcab168. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab168 . PMC   8364668 . PMID   34409289.
  66. ↑ Easton, Ava (October 2017). "Keeping an open mind in neurological practice". The Lancet Neurology. 16 (10): 778. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30215-6 . ISSN   1474-4422.
  67. ↑ Granerod, Julia; Davies, Nicholas W. S.; Ramanuj, Parashar P.; Easton, Ava; Brown, David W. G.; Thomas, Sara L. (2017-02-01). "Increased rates of sequelae post-encephalitis in individuals attending primary care practices in the United Kingdom: a population-based retrospective cohort study" . Journal of Neurology. 264 (2): 407–415. doi:10.1007/s00415-016-8316-8. ISSN   1432-1459. PMID   27766471. S2CID   19816981.
  68. ↑ Whitfield, Thomas; Fernandez, Cristina; Davies, Kelly; Defres, Sylviane; Griffiths, Michael; Hooper, Cory; Tangney, Rebecca; Burnside, Girvan; Hallas, Anna Rosala-; Moore, Perry; Das, Kumar (2021-07-01). "Protocol for DexEnceph: a randomised controlled trial of dexamethasone therapy in adults with herpes simplex virus encephalitis". BMJ Open. 11 (7): e041808. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041808. ISSN   2044-6055. PMC   8728349 . PMID   34301646.
  69. ↑ Easton, Ava (2017). "Encephalitis awareness" . Nursing Standard. 31 (27): 30. doi:10.7748/ns.31.27.30.s32. PMID   28247785 . Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  70. ↑ Solomon, T.; Michael, B. D.; Smith, P. E.; Sanderson, F.; Davies, N. W. S.; Hart, I. J.; Holland, M.; Easton, A.; Buckley, C.; Kneen, R.; Beeching, N. J. (2012-04-01). "Management of suspected viral encephalitis in adults – Association of British Neurologists and British Infection Association National Guidelines" . Journal of Infection. 64 (4): 347–373. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2011.11.014. ISSN   0163-4453. PMID   22120595.
  71. ↑ Kneen, R.; Michael, B. D.; Menson, E.; Mehta, B.; Easton, A.; Hemingway, C.; Klapper, P. E.; Vincent, A.; Lim, M.; Carrol, E.; Solomon, T. (2012-05-01). "Management of suspected viral encephalitis in children – Association of British Neurologists and British Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infection Group National Guidelines" . Journal of Infection. 64 (5): 449–477. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2011.11.013. ISSN   0163-4453. PMID   22120594.
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