Olga Ciccarelli studied Medicine at the University of Rome, Italy, completing her specialist training in Neurology in 1999.
She then came to London with the Jacqueline Du Pre award from the MSIF and a studentship from the University of Rome.
In 2005, she completed a PhD in Neurological Science at the UCL Institute of Neurology.
Soon after was awarded a Wellcome Trust Advanced Clinical Fellowship, during which she had two maternity leaves.
In 2014 she became Professor of Neurology at UCL Institute of Neurology.
Olga is Head of the NMR Research Unit who is a multidisciplinary group aimed at understanding the mechanisms of MS using imaging. The Unit has developed advanced imaging techniques and new trial endpoints. The NMR Unit includes a Trial Office, which has been the central analysis centre for 31 international experimental trials over the last 20 years, leading to the registration with the FDA/EMA of disease modifying treatments for MS (under the leadership of David Miller).
She has secured funding from research councils and charities for her work, and has authored more than 160 papers in her research field.
She is a maternity mentor at UCL Institute of Neurology.
She is Associate Editor of Neurology, leading on the large Neuroimmunology, Neuroinfection, and Neurovirology portfolio.
She has a strong commitment to patient care, runs specialist MS outpatient clinics. Last year, she has been awarded the National Bronze Clinical Excellence Award for her contribution to clinical activities and MS service, research and teaching, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.