Ava Easton

Ava Easton MBE is a health scientist and researcher who specialises in encephalitis, acquired brain injury and narrative medicine, and is considered a world expert in her field of Encephalitis patient outcomes and quality of life. She is the current Chief Executive of Encephalitis International, and collaborates with various organisations on research into the disease.

Education Easton studied Applied Social Sciences at the Open University at the age of 33,

Career Easton has been Chief Executive of Encephalitis International since 2011, a global awareness day to raise awareness of the condition, and provide resources and support to those affected. In 2017, the charity won a Charity Times Award for Charity of the Year with an income of less than £1 million. Also in 2014, 2017, and in 2019, Easton was awarded a Social CEO award, supported by The Guardian newspaper, marking her as one of the top 30 charity leaders on social media. In 2019, World Encephalitis Day won a Third Sector Award for Communications Campaign of the Year, and Easton was given a Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Award.

She is a member of the Global Forum on Neurology and COVID-19, Additionally in 2020, Easton became a member of the Steering Committee for the National Surveillance Programme on Neurological Complications of COVID-19 (COVID-CNS). She also forms part of the associated group CoroNerve, and was also appointed as the Head of Patient and Public Involvement for the programme. Further, Easton is the Chair of the Patient and Public Involvement Panel for the Brain Infections Research Group of the Global Health Network. She is an Ambassador for the European Brain Council, and a member of many other not-for-profit organisations, including the Royal Society of Medicine, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, the American Academy of Neurology, and the European Academy of Neurology.

Easton also lectures at the University of Glasgow School of Medicine, and the University of Liverpool Brain Infections Group,

Easton was awarded an MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire by His Majesty The King in his 2026 New Year Honours List for her work and research in encephalitis.

Research and publications Easton's research is primarily focused around the neurological disease of Encephalitis, but she also works within the broader realms of neurology, the non-profit sector, healthcare outcomes and patient engagement. including its causes, clinical manifestation and disease management. Her work particularly concerns improving patient outcomes, she also explores the social impacts on survivors with a focus on improving research into the disease and enhancing patients' quality of care and support available. Easton's first book, 'Life After Encephalitis' was published by Psychology Press in 2016. Easton explores the ways in which their accounts can aid professionals in deepening their understanding of the disease, and be used to inform care and support provided to those affected.

Her work has been published in The Lancet, The Journal of Neurology, BMJ, Nursing Standard, Clinical Medicine Social Science & Medicine and the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.