Professor Arshad Majid

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Cerebrovascular Neurology

Consultant Neurologist, Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Chief Investigator, TRICEPS Trial (NIHR EME · Association of British Neurologists · Stroke Association)

Co Chief Investigator, RICFAST Trial (Stroke Association)

Professor Arshad Majid
Profile picture of Professor Arshad Majid
arshad.majid@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2290
+44 114 226 8763 (Clinical Secretary: Judy O´Dea)

Full contact details

Professor Arshad Majid
School of Medicine and Population Health
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

My professional mission is to translate cutting‑edge neuroscience into effective therapies for patients with cerebrovascular and other neurological diseases. Following medical graduation from the University of Glasgow, specialist training in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and fellowship training at Washington University in St Louis and the Medical College of Wisconsin, I have pursued a career that bridges bench science and bedside care.

I am honoured to hold the title of NIHR Senior Investigator and to lead major UK multicentre trials:

  • TRICEPS (TRanscutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation to enhance limb rECovery PoSt‑Stroke) – evaluating whether pairing task‑specific upper‑limb rehabilitation with movement‑activated transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves arm function after stroke.
  • RICFAST (Remote Ischaemic Conditioning For fATigue after STroke) – investigating whether repeated brief episodes of limb ischaemia and reperfusion can reduce debilitating post‑stroke fatigue.

Previously I founded the Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases at Michigan State University and the William & Claire Dart Stroke Center at Sparrow Health System before joining the University of Sheffield and Royal Hallamshire Hospital in 2013.

I serve as Director of the Comprehensive Cerebrovascular Research Unit (CCRU). My research has been funded by the NIH, American Heart Association, MRC, NIHR and industry.

Research interests

Key research areas:

  • Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration
  • Electroceuticals
  • Stroke Clinical Trials,
  • Animal and Cellular Models of Stroke and Neuroinflammation
  • Novel Drug Delivery (nanotechnology and exosomes)
  • Remote Conditioning, Vagus Nerve Stimulation.
  • Gene editing, gene blocking & gene replacement for hereditary cerebral small‑vessel diseases — including vascular dementia, COL4A1/COL4A2 mutation‑related angiopathy and CADASIL

Trial / ProjectRoleFocus
TRICEPSChief InvestigatorMovement-activated tVNS paired with upper-limb rehab to improve arm recovery post-stroke
RICFASTCo-Chief InvestigatorRIC as a home-based intervention for alleviating post-stroke fatigue
Gene-block & replacement therapyPrincipal InvestigatorCRISPR/Cas-based editing and AAV-mediated replacement for COL4A1/2 disease, CADASIL & vascular dementia
Stroke vaccine developmentLeadImmunomodulatory vaccine to mitigate secondary neuroinflammation after stroke

Donations

Help Us Beat Rare Genetic Stroke Disorders

Vascular dementia, CADASIL, and COL4A1/2-related diseases are often inherited, progressive, and devastating. These disorders can cause strokes, cognitive decline, and long-term disability in both children and adults.

No disease-modifying treatments currently exist. Our lab is developing world-first gene-block and gene-replacement therapies that offer real hope to affected families. Traditional research funding often overlooks rare conditions, making philanthropic support absolutely vital to accelerate these breakthroughs.

How You Can Help

  • Fund a PhD student or postdoc working on CADASIL or COL4A1 therapy
  • Support development of gene therapy vectors for testing in preclinical models
  • Sponsor patient registries and biobank infrastructure
  • Partner with us to launch early-phase clinical trials

If you or your organisation would like to make a contribution or explore partnership opportunities, please email me directly at arshad.majid@sheffield.ac.uk.

Every contribution, large or small, drives innovation and hope for people affected by genetic stroke disorders.

Publications

Edited books

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Kocsy K, Deshhmukh S, Nawaz S, Ali A, Baig S, Balami J, Kiss-Toth E, Majid A, Francis S & Redgrave J (2024) Modulating The Role And Function Of Macrophages In Human Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Potential Mechanisms For Stabilisation Of Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaques. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 19(3_SUPPL) (pp 39-39) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brittain G, Buckley E, Scott K, Angelini L, De Angelis F, Nair S, Chataway J, Majid A, Mazza C, Sharrack B & Paling D (2023) Quality, not quantity, of walking correlates with deep grey matter in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 29 (pp 317-318) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ramnarine I, Rasheed O, Harkness K, Majid A & Bell S (2022) 198 Should we thrombolyse cognitively impaired patients with acute ischaemic stroke?. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Vol. 93(9) (pp e2.160-e2.160) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kocsy K, Kiss-Toth E, Redgrave J, Majid A & Francis S (2021) BS1 Reprogramming human macrophages with drug X: potential mechanisms for stabilisation of atherosclerotic plaques. Basic science RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ali A, Moyle B, Baig S, Redgrave J & Majid A (2020) INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT AND TREAT POST STROKE FATIGUE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 15(1_SUPPL) (pp 660-660) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ali A, Nichols S, Baig S, Moyle B, Mcgregor G, Redgrave J, Majid A & Evans K (2020) EFFECT OF EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER STROKE AND TRANSIENT ISCHAEMIC ATTACK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 15(1_SUPPL) (pp 657-657) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ali A, Baig S, Moyle B, Redgrave J & Majid A (2020) A COMMUNITY-BASED EXERCISE REFERRAL PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH IN STROKE AND TIA PATIENTS: A PILOT FEASIBILITY STUDY. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 15(1_SUPPL) (pp 142-142) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ali A, Moyle B, Baig S, Redgrave J & Majid A (2020) UNDERSTANDING THE FACILITATORS AND BARRIERS TO EXERCISE AFTER STROKE AMONG PATIENTS, EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS AND CLINICIANS.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 15(1_SUPPL) (pp 260-260) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ali A, Delchev K, Nichols S, Maden-Wilkinson T, Kudierski N, Baig S, Moyle B, Redgrave J & Majid A (2020) PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING RECUMBENT AEROBIC CYCLING FOLLOWING ACUTE STROKE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 15(1_SUPPL) (pp 212-212) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Eaves L, Ali A, Majid A & Redgrave J (2018) Stroke and TIA awareness and response to symptoms study (STARSS): assessing the relationship between stroke knowledge and help-seeking behaviour. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Vol. 13 (pp 21-21) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kocsy K, Alqurashi R, Johnston JM, Baidzajevas K, Majid A, Wilson HL, Kiss-Toth E, Redgrave J & Francis SE (2018) P16 HUMAN MACROPHAGE SUBSETS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS. Cardiovascular Research, Vol. 114(suppl_2) (pp S5-S6) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kocsy K, Wadanamby S, Tang K, Majid A, Redgrave J, Johnston J, Francis S & Kiss-Toth E (2018) 116 Semi-quantitative imaging of macrophages in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Basic Science RIS download Bibtex download
  • Herholz K, Hinz R, Visi E, Trigg W, McDonald K, Punter M, Majid A & Gerhard A (2017) Microglial activation in recent ischemic stroke: comparison of two TSPO tracers. JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE, Vol. 58 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jani VB, Patel A, Schurr J, Shell E, Bey J, Mitchell M, Shippey R, Kassab M, Razak A, Safdar A , Majid A et al (2016) Difference in Acute Ischemic Post Thrombolytic Stroke Outcomes in Pre Comprehensive and Post Comprehensive Status: Single Center Experience. STROKE, Vol. 47 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bhatt A, Brown M, Glynn T, Kothari R, Hughes M, Campbell M, Bishop K, Majid A & Reeves M (2010) Inter-rater Reliability of Transient Ischemic Attack Diagnosis in the Emergency Department. STROKE, Vol. 41(4) (pp E203-E203) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Farooq MU, Bhatt A, Safdar A, Kassab MY & Majid A (2010) Stroke Symptoms and Risk Factor Awareness Amongst High School Children in Pakistan. STROKE, Vol. 41(4) (pp E291-E291) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mitchell M, Frommeyer B, Bhatt A, Short J, Wehner S & Majid A (2010) Concordance Between Patient Bedside Dysphagia Assessment Results Obtained From Neurological Nurses and Speech Pathologists. STROKE, Vol. 41(4) (pp E230-E230) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Reeves MJ, Gargano JW, Wehner S, Brown M, Glynn T, Hughes M, Majid A & Kothari R (2008) Predictors of discharge disposition for TIA cases presenting to community-based emergency departments. STROKE, Vol. 39(2) (pp 704-704) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Reeves MJ, Gargano JW, Wehner S, Brown M, Glynn T, Hughes M, Majid A & Kothari R (2008) Ability of the ABCD2 clinical prediction rule to identify low-risk TIA cases in community-based emergency departments. STROKE, Vol. 39(2) (pp 558-558) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Farooq MU, Lobeck IN, Majid A & Kassab MY (2008) BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGES AFTER INTRAVENOUS LOADING WITH FOSPHENYTOIN AND LEVETIRACETAM IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CEREBRAL INSULTS. EPILEPSIA, Vol. 49 (pp 430-431) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MD, Reeves MJ, Glynn T, Majid A & Kothari RU (2007) Implementation of a transient ischemic attack clinical pathway: A pilot study in knowledge translation. ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Vol. 50(3) (pp S102-S102) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Reeves MJ, Gargano J, Mullard A, Majid A & Luo Z (2007) Effect of pre-existing statin use on in-hospital mortality and functional status at discharge in stroke patients: A propensity-based analysis. CIRCULATION, Vol. 115(21) (pp E581-E582) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Zemke D, Krishnamurthy R, Farooq MU, Reeves MJ, Chen AF & Majid A (2006) The effect of hypoxic preconditioning on the mTOR pathway. STROKE, Vol. 37(2) (pp 682-682) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Zheng JS, Hong H, Majid A, Kaufman DI & Chen AF (2005) Inhibition of brain GTP cyclohydrolase I and tetrahydrobiopterin attenuates cerebral infarction via reducing iNOS and peroxynitrite in ischemic stroke. JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES, Vol. 238 (pp S388-S389) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Deng YZ, Jacobs B, Birbeck G, Kothari R, Hickenbottom S, Majid A, Reeves M & Grp MASCOTSW (2004) Factors associated with IV tPA use in eligible acute stroke patients in Michigan. STROKE, Vol. 35(1) (pp 335-335) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group

Doctoral Students

Professor Majid welcomes enquiries from students interested in pursuing a doctorate in translational and clinical research. Several projects, preclinical (translational) and clinical are available. These include development of vaccines for neurological diseases, remote conditioning, development of exosome technologies for therapeutics and development of novel neurotherapeutics.

Post-Doctoral Scientists (short and long-term):

Several preclinical and clinical projects are available.

Teaching activities

Professor Majid is the Phase 3a Neurology Lead for Sheffield Medical school.