James Lilleker is a Consultant Neurologist at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester, specialising in neuromuscular disease. He co-leads the Greater Manchester Muscle Disease Unit and leads the regional Spinal Muscular Atrophy Assessment and Treatment Service.

His research focuses particularly on inflammatory myopathies, inclusion body myositis and spinal muscular atrophy, including diagnostic criteria, clinical trials and novel therapies. He also holds national and international leadership roles in neuromuscular medicine, research and service development.

Neuromuscular disease, particularly inflammatory myopathies, inclusion body myositis and spinal muscular atrophy, with interests in diagnosis, disease classification, clinical trials and novel therapies.

Association of British Neurologists – Neuromuscular Advisory Committee

British Myology Society – Vice Chair

International Myositis Society (iMYOS) – Associate Board

Neuromuscular Study Group – Executive Committee

North West Adult and Paediatric Neuromuscular Network – Co-chair

SMA Care UK – Steering Committee

Adult SMA REACH – Steering Committee

UK SMA Patient Registry – Steering Committee

NHS England National Clinical Panel for SMA Managed Access Agreement

MYONET – Steering Committee

FSHD UK – Committee Member

James Lilleker’s research has influenced the diagnosis, classification and management of neuromuscular disease. He was first author of the 2024 ENMC international workshop revising diagnostic criteria for inclusion body myositis and contributed to the British Society for Rheumatology guideline on the management of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.

He has also contributed to major international collaborative studies, including the EuroMyositis registry, and leads investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies as Principal Investigator for several early-phase neuromuscular clinical trials, helping expand access to experimental therapies for people with muscle-wasting conditions.

2019 – Best Research Presentation, Manchester Medical Society

2018 – Investigator Award, European Academy of Neurology

2017 – Crawford Prize for best clinical presentation, North of England Neurological Association

2015 – Liversedge Prize for best research presentation, North of England Neurological Association

Manchester Myositis Research Group

Manchester Neuromuscular Research Group