Eoin P. Flanagan, M.B., B.Ch.

Eoin P. Flanagan, M.B., B.Ch., is a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, specializing in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. He serves as Chair of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology and Director of the Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, where he helps lead efforts to advance patient care, research, and education.

His clinical and research expertise spans disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, with a particular focus on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), as well as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), transverse myelitis, and autoimmune encephalitis. Through his clinical care, research, and leadership, Dr. Flanagan seeks to transform the lives of people affected by these complex disorders by advancing earlier and more precise diagnosis, developing more effective and individualized treatments, and ultimately preventing relapses and neurological disability.

Areas of expertise

Dr. Flanagan provides compassionate, evidence-based care for people with autoimmune neurological conditions and demyelinating diseases. His areas of expertise include:

• MOGAD: Diagnosis and treatment of MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), including complex or uncertain presentations, informed by Dr. Flanagan's NIH-funded research and involvement in MOGAD clinical trials.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of MS, including complex presentations and differentiation from other inflammatory and autoimmune neurological disorders.
• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD): Comprehensive evaluation and treatment integrating clinical features, MRI findings, antibody testing, and emerging therapies.
• Transverse myelitis: Specialized evaluation of inflammatory spinal cord disorders, with particular expertise in MRI interpretation and distinguishing myelitis from its mimics.
• Autoimmune encephalitis: Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disorders affecting the brain, including autoimmune encephalitis, encephalopathy, and autoimmune causes of cognitive impairment.

Research and expertise

Dr. Flanagan's translational research is dedicated to improving the lives of people with MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and related autoimmune neurological disorders. His work seeks to uncover why these diseases develop, define how they affect the nervous system, and discover better ways to diagnose, predict, and treat them. By integrating clinical research, advanced neuroimaging, antibody and biomarker discovery, disease mechanisms, and clinical trials, his goal is to move toward earlier and more precise diagnosis, treatments tailored to the individual, and ultimately the prevention of relapses and neurological disability.