Center for Encephalitis & Meningitis

The UCSF Center for Encephalitis and Meningitis provides comprehensive services to diagnose, treat and restore the health of patients with neuroinflammatory disorders. We have expertise in caring for the various forms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), including those caused by a viral or bacterial infection or an autoimmune response. We also treat meningitis and pachymeningitis, which involve inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, as well as paraneoplastic neurological disorders, a group of nervous system conditions that result from the immune system's response to a tumor.

We offer state-of-the-art testing techniques, including genomic sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid, that can help us pinpoint the causes of these conditions and determine how best to treat them.

Our highly experienced team of neurologists and infectious disease specialists also conducts research to better understand what triggers encephalitis and meningitis and to develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. This work, led by our research laboratory, involves a close partnership with the UCSF Center for Next-Gen Precision Diagnostics.