Prof Emma Matthews

Clinical interests

Prof Matthews’ main clinical interests are in neuromuscular diseases with a sub-specialty interest in genetic neuromuscular disorders especially muscle and nerve channelopathies and myotonic disorders. She joined the Atkinson Morley Neuromuscular Centre in June 2020 and leads the transition service for young adults with neuromuscular disorders. She also runs specialist clinics for muscle channelopathies, and myotonic dystrophy. In 2022 she led the establishment of a NHSE Rare Disease Collaborative Network in Paroxysmal Motor Disorders at St George’s.

Professional profile

Prof Matthews is a Consultant Neurologist at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Neurology at City St George’s University of London. She is Co-Lead for Rare Diseases in the SE Genomic Medicine Service Alliance. She is also the Director for the Genomics Clinical Academic Group.

Prof Matthews studied Medicine at the University of Aberdeen. She was awarded a PhD in Neuroscience from the Institute of Neurology, University College London before undertaking higher specialist training in neurology at the Royal Free Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London.

From 2014-2020 Dr Matthews worked as an academic consultant neurologist at the Institute of Neurology, UCL funded by fellowships from the NIHR and Wellcome. In addition she was an honorary consultant neurologist at NHNN and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). She worked at the National referral service for adults with skeletal muscle channelopathies at NHNN and led the establishment of a new clinical service at Great Ormond Street Hospital for children with channelopathies. In addition she worked in the transition service for young adults with neuromuscular disorders at NHNN and assisted with the set-up of the first Neuromuscular Complex Care Centre in the UK.

Prof Matthews’ main academic interests are in channelopathies with a focus on severe paediatric presentations and neurogenetics. She has co-authored 3 book chapters and >100 peer reviewed papers in journals including the Lancet, Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, JAMA and Brain.