Alberto Vogrig, MD PhD

He obtained the National Scientific Habilitation (ASN) qualifying him for promotion to Associate Professor of Neurology in 2022.

He was appointed Co-Chair of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Scientific Panel of Neuroimmunology in 2023.

My PhD project aimed at examining tumor specificities and cancer immunotherapy as relevant triggers of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS), in order to improve our clinical and biological knowledge of these syndromes and the understanding on the pathophysiology of these conditions. My PhD project supports the view that the association between cancer and PNS is causal, and not merely temporal, as highlighted in the updated diagnostic criteria. Specific genetic signatures of cancer are likely responsible for triggering the immune response, which can in turn results in an efficient immune attack against the tumour. In addition, ICI treatment can induce syndromes clinically and biologically similar to PNS.

It is my great honor and privilege to have worked in Jérôme Honnorat's group. My stay in Lyon permitted me to complete an innovative research project as part of a PhD thesis, along with clinical learning and laboratory experience. My stay in Lyon was very fruitful thanks to the work, guide, and support of a unique team of excellent people that is the one of the Reference Center. I was warmly welcomed from all, and during my stay I had the opportunity to experience the competence as well as the kindness of all the members. I am particularly grateful to Professor Jérôme Honnorat for the scientific method he taught me, the need to always question my assumptions, and to always improve and never settle. My work was organized in a way that I could combine both clinical learning and research activities. In conclusion, I had a wonderful professional and personal experience and I believe that my future career in Neurology will greatly benefit from this research period in Lyon. I am looking forward to future collaborations with Prof. Honnorat and his team from Lyon, which will enable me to further develop this neurological field in my region in Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, at the Udine University Hospital.

Publications & Reviews during my stay:

Lardeux P, and al. Core cerebrospinal fuid biomarker profle in anti‑LGI1 encephalitis. Journal of neurology. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10642-2 (WP2)

Vogrig A, Péricart S, and al. Immunopathogenesis and proposed clinical score for identifying Kelch-like protein-11 encephalitis. Brain Communications. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcab185 (WP2)

Muñiz-Castrillo S, Hedou J, and al. Distinctive clinical presentation and pathogenic specificities of anti-AK5 encephalitis. Brain, 2021; awab153, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab153 (WP3)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Haesebaert J and al. Clinical and Prognostic Value of Immunogenetic Characteristics in Anti-LGI1 Encephalitis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000974 (WP3)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Vogrig A and al. Familial autoimmunity in neurological patients with GAD65 antibodies: an interview-based study. Journal of neurology. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10424-w (WP3)

Vogrig A, and al. Cranial Nerve Disorders Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Neurology. 2020. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000011340 (WP2)

Hébert J, Riche B and al. Epidemiology of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes and autoimmune encephalitides in France. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020; 7 (6). https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000883 (WP1)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Joubert B, and al. Anti-CASPR2 clinical phenotypes correlate with HLA and immunological features. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020; 0:1–9. doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-323226 (WP3)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Vogrig A, Joubert B, and al. Transient Neurological Symptoms Preceding Cerebellar Ataxia with Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies. Cerebellum. 2020; 19 715-721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-020-01159 (WP2) 

Vogrig A, Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Joubert B, and al. Central nervous system complications associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020; 91:772-778. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323212 (WP2)

Simard C, Vogrig A, Joubert B, and al. Clinical spectrum and diagnostic pitfalls of neurologic syndromes with Ri antibodies. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020; 7:e699. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000699 (WP2)

Déchelotte B, Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Joubert B, and al. Diagnostic yield of commercial immunodots to diagnose paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020; 7(3):e701. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000701 (WP2)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Ambati A, Dubois V, and al. Primary DQ effect in the association between HLA and neurological syndromes with anti-GAD65 antibodies. J Neurol. 2020; 267:1906-1911. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09782-8 (WP3)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Vogrig A, and al. Novelties in Autoimmune and Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Ataxias: Twenty Years of Progresses. The Cerebellum. 2022.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-021-01363-3 (WP2)

Ciano-Petersen N, Muñiz‑Castrillo S, and al. Immunomodulation in the acute phase of autoimmune encephalitis. Revue neurologique. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2021.12.001 (WP2)

Graus F, Vogrig A, Muñiz-Castrillo S, and al. Updated Diagnostic Criteria for Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2021. DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001014 (WP2)

Vogrig A, Muñiz-Castrillo S, and al. How to diagnose and manage neurological toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors: an update. Journal of neurology. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10870-6 (WP2)

Fels E, Muñiz‑Castrillo S, and al. Role of LGI1 protein in synaptic transmission: From physiology to pathology. Neurobiology of disease. 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105537 (WP2)

Muñiz-Castrillo S, and al. Diagnostic des encéphalites auto-immunes. Pratique Neurologique – FMC 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.praneu.2020.08.006 (WP2)

Vogrig A, Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Desestret V. Pathophysiology of paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis: genes, infections, and checkpoint inhibitors. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2020; 13:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/1756286420932797 (WP2)

Muñiz‑Castrillo S, Vogrig A, Honnorat J. Associations between HLA and autoimmune neurological diseases with autoantibodies. Autoimmun Highlights. 2020; 11:2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13317-019-0124-6 (WP3)