Dr Carl Counsell

Biography

Carl is a clinical reader and honorary consultant in neurology.  He graduated in medicine from Cambridge University in 1988, did his early postgraduate medical training in London, Newcastle and Falkirk and then trained in neurology, stroke and epidemiology in Edinburgh.  He spent a year in Melbourne where he specialised in movement disorders before taking up his present post in 2001.  A committed Christian, he would like to have more time to serve in his church and develop his interests in Fairtrade and conservation. 

Research Overview

Carl is a consultant neurologist with subspecialty interest in movement disorders.  His main research interests are in evidence-based medicine and broader aspects of clinical epidemiology such as incidence and prognostic studies, particularly in relation to Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders and stroke.  His team have established several cohorts of parkinsonian patients for long-term follow-up and supported a number of non-industry sponsored clinical trials and Cochrane reviews, whilst also trying to promote multidisciplinary neurology research in Aberdeen. 

Current Research

The PINE study: a population-based incidence cohort of people with Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian disorders, along with their carers and controls who are being followed up lifelong to establish long-term prognosis.

The Parkinson's Incidence Cohorts Collaboration:  an individual patient data meta-analysis of all population- based incidence cohorts of Parkinson's disease to assess prognosis and allow prognostic modelling.     

The Scottish PSP/CBD prevalence cohort:  a cohort of people with two related Parkinson's plus disorders,  Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration as well as Parkinson's disease controls, to assess diagnostic and care pathways and prognosis.  

Past Research

Cochrane systematic reviews of randomised trials in stroke care and Parkinson's disease

Prognostic modelling in acute stroke

Incidence of Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian disorders in North-East Scotland 

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in North-East Scotland and northern isles

Randomised trial of physiotherapy for cervical dystonia

Knowledge Exchange

Member of Parkinson's Excellence Network

Collaborations

Cochrane Collaboration Stroke Review Group, Professors Charles Warlow and Peter Sandercock, University of Edinburgh, UK, 1993-98.

Scottish Audit of Intracranial Vascular Malformations, Professor Rustam Al-Shahi Salman, University of Edinburgh, UK, 2002-2014. 

PDMED trial, Professor Carl Clarke, University of Birmingham, UK, 2004-2020.

Clinical trial methods in neurodegenerative diseases, Professor John Zajicek, University of Plymouth, UK, 2009-2014. 

PDCOMM trial, Professor Sackley, University of Nottingham, UK, 2016-2023.

NICE technology appraisals for multiple sclerosis, Universities of Warwick and Exeter, UK, 2016-2022 

Parkinson's Incidence Cohorts Collaboration, Professor Tysnes, Dr Guido Alves, Professor Lars Forsgren, Dr Caroline Williams-Gray, Dr Alison Yarnall, Universities of Stavanger (Norway), Umea (Sweden), Cambridge (UK) and Newcastle (UK), 2018 ongoing 

PD Connect exercise trial, Julie Jones, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK, 2019-2022 

Funding and Grants

Research funding has been obtained from:

Parkinson’s UK, Scottish Chief Scientist Office, BMA Doris Hillier award, RS Macdonald Trust, BUPA Foundation, NHS Grampian endowments, Dystonia Society, National Institute for Health Research.  

Teaching Responsibilities

Lectures and clinical teaching of neurology for medical and dental students.

Supervising medical student elective and MSc projects 

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Regent to medical students