UFN Unit Members

Unit of Funtional Neurosurgery Members


 Professor Marwan Hariz MD, PhD

Professor Hariz is a Neurosurgeon on the Deep Brain Stimulation Team.

In October 2002 Professor Hariz accepted the Edmond J. Safra Chair in Functional Neurosurgery at the Institute of Neurology, University College, London. He relocated from Sweden where he was Professor of Functional Neurosurgery at The University of Umea.

His medical education was completed in Reims, France and at the University of Umea in Sweden. He started his career as a neurosurgeon working with the world renowned surgeon Professor Laitinen, one of the pioneers of stereotactic surgery for Parkinson's disease.

Professor Hariz has international recognition for his work as a neurosurgeon as well as for his research on the effects of neurosurgery for movement disorders. He has been a Visiting Professor at the Department of Neurosurgery, Cornell University, USA and also at Nara Medical University, Japan. He sits on the Board of Directors of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN).

In March 2001, Professor Hariz’ work was honoured by the Swedish Parkinson's Disease Association, by awarding him their Honorary Medal and in October 2009, he received the Mångberg Award, University of Umeå, as an international authority in functional neurosurgery.



Dr Patricia Limousin MD, PhD

Dr Patricia Limousin is a Neurologist on the Deep Brain Stimulation Team.

She has worked at UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery since 1997, where she is currently a Reader in Clinical Neurology and Honorary Consultant Neurologist.

She completed her medical education at the University of Grenoble. In 1998 she obtained a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Lyon I. The topic of her PhD thesis was deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus as a treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Dr Limousin was a member of the team of Professors Benabid and Pollak in Grenoble, France where deep brain stimulation for movement disorders was originally developed. She is among the most experienced neurologists worldwide with regard to setting the optimal parameters for deep brain stimulation and post-operative management of patients.

She has international recognition for her work on treatment of Parkinson's disease with deep brain stimulation and for her research on the impact of such surgery on the clinical and motor symptoms of the disorder.



Professor Marjan Jahanshahi BSc, MPhil, PhD

Professor Jahanshahi is the Clinical Neuropsychologist on the Deep Brain Stimulation Team.

She has worked at UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery since 1988, where she is currently a Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology and the Head of the Cognitive-Motor Neuroscience Group.

She was educated at the University of London. She obtained a first class degree in Psychology from University College London in 1980. She then qualified as a Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Maudsley Hospital, where she also completed her PhD under the supervision of the late Professor David Marsden, the renowned world authority on Parkinson's disease.

Professor Jahanshahi has international recognition for her research on the cognitive, motor and psychosocial aspects of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Click here for Professor Jahanshahi’s Home Page / Publications


Dr Thomas Foltynie BSc, MBBS, MRCP, PhD

Dr Foltynie was appointed as Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Neurologist in the Unit of Functional Neurosurgery at UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in May 2008.

He trained in medicine at UCL, qualifying in 1995 then working in Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge. From 1999 to 2003, he undertook his PhD in Cambridge looking at the heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease, describing differences in cognitive abilities between patients under the influence of various genes including COMT and BDNF, and Tau. He finished his neurology training between Addenbrooke's Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. While working in London with Dr Limousin, he has developed his interest in Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's disease and has developed collaboration between Parkinson's disease investigators in Cambridge and London.

Dr Foltynie is now evaluating factors underlying the heterogeneity of response to DBS, in addition to developing other innovative treatments for Parkinson's disease. These include leading a randomised trial of the GLP-1 receptor agonist Exenatide as a treatment for PD, and UCL's lead for the forthcoming EU sponsored cell transplantation trials for PD. Dr Foltynie is also responsible for patients having DBS for non-PD pathologies at Queen Square including Tourette syndrome and Cluster headache.



Mr Ludvic Zrinzo MD, MSc, FRCSEd (Selected Publications)

Mr Zrinzo is a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Senior Clinical Researcher in the Unit of Functional Neurosurgery.

Having qualified in Medicine from the University of Malta, Mr Zrinzo moved to London to pursue a career in Neurosurgery. His interest in Functional Neurosurgery commenced when visiting the Neurosurgical Department in Lund, Sweden as a medical student and developed further while pursuing an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL Institute of Neurology, for which he was awarded a Distinction.

Mr Zrinzo pursued two Stereotactic and Functional Fellowships, at Queen Square, London and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under the aegis of Professors Marwan Hariz and Antonio DeSalles, respectively.

One of two Consultant Functional Neurosurgeons at Queen Square, his research has improved the accuracy of anatomical targeting during DBS procedures and has helped introduce several new brain targets and indications for DBS to the National Hospital. He also has a busy General Neurosurgical practice with a particular interest in complex intracranial surgery.



Dr Diane Ruge

Dr Diane Ruge is a Neurologist and Research Fellow on the Functional Neurosurgery Team.

She has worked at UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery since 2006 and started working with the Deep Brain Stimulation Team the same year.

She did her general medical training at University of Goettingen and Toronto. She has completed her specialist training to become a board certified neurologist. She obtained a higher research degree in Clinical Neurophysiology in Germany in 2003. Her thesis was about the brain excitability in patients with focal dystonia. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of electrophysiology of movement and movement disorders. Since 2006 she has worked for John Rothwell who is a Professor for Neurophysiology at UCL.

Her research in the Unit of Functional Neurosurgery is focussing on the exploration of the mechanism of an effective deep brain stimulation by using electrophysiological and imaging techniques. Clinically she is doing pre and post surgery management of the patients.



Ms Elina Tripoliti

Elina Tripoliti is a Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist working with the Deep Brain Stimulation Team.

She provides therapy for speech and swallowing difficulties of patients with Movement Disorders.

She has a degree in Psychology from the University of Athens and a postgraduate degree in Speech & Language Therapy from City University, London. She is currently a PhD student with UCL Institute of Neurology, investigating the effects of deep brain stimulation on speech.

She is a trustee of the Sing for Joy choir; a choir for people with Parkinson's disease. With the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) Foundation she organises the LSVT Workshop in London twice a year.

Mr Joseph Candelario

Joseph Candelario is the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Functional Neurosurgery Team.

He has been working at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery since 2002. He started as a staff nurse in John Young ward, where he gained his neurology nursing experience in caring for patients with chronic medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and Myasthenia gravis. He later became a lead nurse in the ward before moving on to his current role.

He completed his Nursing degree in 1995 at Central Luzon Doctor’s Hospital – Educational Institution in the Philippines. He also completed a neuroscience nursing course – A Framework for Awards for Continuing Professional Development in 2005 at London South Bank University. He has taken an array of postgraduate courses to develop his specialist skills and knowledge in movement disorders and he is currently pursuing to complete an advanced nursing degree.

His role is to provide vital nursing input to ensure that a high standard of care is maintained for patients with movement disorders in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. He serves as an advocate for patients and family throughout their journey from assessment to follow-up care.

Ms Linda Taib

Linda Taib is PA to Professor Marwan Hariz, and Secretary to the Unit of Functional Neurosurgery.

She is also Academic Secretary to Professor Bhatia, Professor of Clinical Neurology.

The UCL Institute of Neurology promotes teaching and research of the highest quality in neurology and the neurosciences. The Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery are members of  UCL Partners, Europe's largest academic health science partnership.