Angela Vincent facts for kids

Angela Vincent (born 1942) is a British scientist who studies the brain and nervous system. She is a professor at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford. This means she is a very respected expert in her field.

About Angela Vincent's Work

Angela Vincent was born in 1942. She was the third child of Carmen and Joseph Molony. She went to school at St Mary's Convent in Ascot. Later, she studied medicine at King's College London. She also went to Westminster Hospital School of Medicine.

After becoming a junior doctor, she studied biochemistry. This is the study of the chemical processes inside living things. In 1967, she married Philip Morse Vincent. They have four children.

Studying the Nervous System

Angela Vincent spent time researching how our nerves work. She joined a team led by Ricardo Miledi. They studied special parts of our nerves called acetylcholine receptors. These receptors help our muscles move.

Her medical background was very helpful. She started working with John Newsom-Davis. Together, they created a group to study neuroimmunology. This field looks at how our immune system (which fights off sickness) can sometimes attack our own nervous system by mistake.

Their group later moved to Oxford University. Angela Vincent led this group until 2016. During this time, she also led the Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford. She was also president of a big international group for neuroimmunology.

Her research group studied many areas of biology. They looked at molecular biology (tiny parts of cells) and biochemistry. They also studied immunology (how the immune system works) and neurophysiology (how nerves work).

Focus on Autoimmune Diseases

Angela Vincent's team focused on diseases where the immune system attacks the body. These are called autoimmune diseases. They studied conditions that affect nerves and muscles.

Some of the main diseases they studied include:

• Myasthenia gravis: This causes muscle weakness.
• Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome: Another condition causing muscle weakness.
• Limbic encephalitis and other autoimmune encephalitis: These are brain conditions.
• Acquired neuromyotonia: This causes muscle stiffness and spasms.

She helped show how special proteins called antibodies cause these problems. These antibodies can attack important parts of nerve cells.

Research on Pregnancy and Babies

Angela Vincent also showed something very important about pregnancy. She found that antibodies from a pregnant woman can pass to her fetus. This happens while the baby is still inside the womb.

These antibodies can cause problems for the baby. They can lead to issues with muscles and nerves. They can also affect how the baby's brain develops.

Current Work and Support

Since 2016, Angela Vincent has been an emeritus professor at Oxford. This means she is retired but still connected to the university. She continues to work on nerve and muscle disorders. She also helps guide young scientists.

She is a strong supporter of "Freedom from Torture." This group helps people who have been tortured. She also supports British Pugwash. This group brings scientists together to talk about world peace and disarmament.

Awards and Honours

Angela Vincent has received many important awards for her work.

• In 2009, she gave the Leslie Oliver Oration. She also received a medal from the Association of British Neurologists.
• In 2015, she won the British Neuroscience Association Award. This was for her amazing contributions to neuroscience.
• In 2017, she received an award from the World Federation of Neurology.
• In 2018, she won a big international prize for her research.
• In 2019, she received an award from the America Epilepsy Society.
• In 2020, she got the Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from Imperial College, London.
• In 2021, she received a lifetime award from the German Neurological Society.

She has also been chosen as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (in 2002). In 2011, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society. Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is one of the highest honours for a scientist in the UK.