Dr Esther Hobson

BMBCh PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer in neurology, University of Sheffield

Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

e.hobson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 0114 2712306 (Clinical Secretary - Royal Hallamshire Hospital: Zoe Hamilton)
+44 01302 642845 (Clinical Secretary -Doncaster Royal Infirmary: Suzy Brewster)
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
Tuesday to Friday

Full contact details

Dr Esther Hobson
School of Medicine and Population Health
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

I undertook my medical training at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge University and Green College, Oxford University.  I undertook my junior doctor training in Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire before becoming a neurology registrar at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in 2010.  I entered the NIHR academic training programme, completing an NIHR doctoral research fellowship and PhD between 2014 and 2017 before becoming an NIHR clinical lecturer and later a senior lecturer.

Outside of medicine I enjoy mountain biking and exploring the beautiful outdoors around Sheffield. 

Research interests

She is a member of the at the led by Professor Pamela Shaw and Professor Chris McDermott. 

Her core aim of research is on improving the quality and standard of care provided to people living with long-term neurological conditions, both patients and their family and carers. She is am particularly interested in complex interventions, digital technology, and evidence based care. She has experience in randomised controlled trials of therapies including novel genetic therapies as well as feasibility and implementation studies of complex interventions. She used mixed method approaches as well as person-centred design to ensure users are at the heart of effective NHS services.

This project is currently funded by MND Scotland, previously funded by NIHR Research and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. It is an international multicentre implementation study of TiM (telehealth in MND). It aims to develop a digital service to support patients and their carers to gain access to a high standard of multidisciplinary care.

I co-lead an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit funded study which has developed evidenced based tools to help staff help their patients with motor neurone disease get the most out of non-invasive ventilation.

Other research interests

Other interests including improving the way in which we manage other symptoms of motor neurone disease and deliver education and information to people living with, and caring for people with neurological diseases.  This includes the development of the award winning website  which translates evidence from a prospective study of gastrostomy feeding, led by SITraN, into information designed for patients and carers to help support them thinking about and using gastrostomy feeding.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Massey C, Hobson E, McDermott C & Griffiths AW (2025) . Disability and Rehabilitation.
  • Musson LS, Baxter SK, Norman P, O’Brien D, Elliott M, Bianchi S, Kaltsakas G, Mcdermott CJ, Hobson EV & Stavroulakis T (2025) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
  • Allen MD, Van eijk RPA, Knox L, Carlton J, Hobson E, Mcdermott CJ, Murray D, Berry J, Meyer T & Genge A (2025) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
  • Massey C, Griffiths AW, McDermott C & Hobson E (2025) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
  • Massey C, Hobson E, Griffiths AW, Musson L & McDermott C (2025) . Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 15(4), 149-160.
  • Musson LS, Mitic N, Leigh-Valero V, Onambele-Pearson G, Knox L, Steyn FJ, Holdom CJ, Dick TJM, van Eijk RPA, van Unnik JWJ , Botman LCM et al (2025) . Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27.
  • Demaegd KC, Kernan A, Cooper-Knock J, van Vugt JJFA, Harvey C, Moll T, O’Brien D, Gornall S, Drury L, Farhan SMK , Dion PA et al (2025) . European Journal of Human Genetics, 33(9), 1106-1112.
  • Knox L, Coates E, Griffiths A, Ali Y, Hobson E & McDermott C (2024) . JMIR Research Protocols, 13.
  • Carlton J, Powell P, Rowen D, Williams C, Griffiths AW, Hobson E & McDermott C (2024) . Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 22(1).
  • McDool E, Carlton J, Powell PA, Coates E, Knox L, Mayberry E, Appleby N, Griffiths AW, Hobson E & McDermott CJ (2024) . Neurology, 103(2).
  • (2024) , 119-169.
  • Mohamed Abu Baker A, Moore H, Baster K, Hobson E, Paling D, Sharrack B & Nair KPS (2023) . Advances in Rehabilitation Science and Practice, 12.
  • Agrawal S, Hobson EV & Hart AR (2023) . Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 109(1), 59-64.
  • Musson LS, Baxter SK, Norman P, O'Brien D, Elliott M, Bianchi S, Kaltsakas G, McDermott CJ, Stavroulakis T & Hobson EV (2023) . ERJ Open Research, 9(2).
  • Rose L, Thaventhiran T, Hobson E, Rogers R, James K, Chu P, Carter B, Faull C, Saha S, Lee JS , Kaltsakas G et al (2023) . Trials, 24.
  • Cole J, Choudry S, Kular S, Payne T, Akili S, Callaby H, Gordon NC, Ankcorn M, Martin A, Hobson E & Tunbridge AJ (2023) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 23(3), e115-e120.
  • Miller TM, Cudkowicz ME, Genge A, Shaw PJ, Sobue G, Bucelli RC, Chiò A, Van Damme P, Ludolph AC, Glass JD , Andrews JA et al (2022) . New England Journal of Medicine, 387(12), 1099-1110.
  • Helleman J, Johnson B, Holdom C, Hobson E, Murray D, Steyn FJ, Ngo ST, Henders A, Lokeshappa MB, Visser-Meily JMA , van den Berg LH et al (2022) . Journal of Neurology, 269(11), 6003-6013.
  • Nair K, Lee M, Hobson E, Oliver D & Husbands E (2022) . Practical Neurology, 22(5), 385-391.
  • Knox L, McDermott C & Hobson E (2022) . Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, 46(6), 506-517.
  • Musson LS, Collins A, Opie-Martin S, Bredin A, Hobson EV, Barkhouse E, Coulson MC, Stavroulakis T, Gould RL, Al-Chalabi A & McDermott CJ (2022) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2022, 1-9.
  • van Eijk RPA, Beelen A, Kruitwagen ET, Murray D, Radakovic R, Hobson E, Knox L, Helleman J, Burke T, Rubio Pérez MÁ , Reviers E et al (2021) . Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(9).
  • Perry RJ, Tamborska A, Singh B, Craven B, Marigold R, Arthur-Farraj P, Yeo JM, Zhang L, Hassan-Smith G, Jones M , Hutchcroft C et al (2021) . The Lancet, 398(10306), 1147-1156.
  • Hobson EV, Baird WO, Bradburn M, Cooper C, Mawson S, Quinn A, Shaw PJ, Walsh T & McDermott CJ (2019) . BMJ Open, 9(10).
  • Hobson E, Baird W, Bradburn M, Cooper C, Mawson S, Quinn A, Shaw PJ, Walsh T & McDermott CJ (2019) . BMJ Open, 9.
  • O'Brien D, Stavroulakis T, Baxter S, Norman P, Bianchi S, Elliott M, Johnson M, Clowes M, Garcia-Sánchez A, Hobson E & McDermott C (2019) . European Respiratory Journal, 54(3).
  • Musson LS, McDermott CJ & Hobson EV (2019) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 20(7-8), 511-520.
  • Baxter S, Johnson M, Clowes M, O'Brien D, Norman P, Stavroulakis T, Bianchi S, Elliott M, McDermott C & Hobson E (2019) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration, 20(7-8), 461-472.
  • James T, Hobson E, Mupambo N & McDermott C (2019) . Neurology, 92(15_supplement).
  • Hobson EV, Baird WO, Partridge R, Cooper CL, Mawson S, Quinn A, Shaw PJ, Walsh T, Wolstenholme D & Mcdermott CJ (2018) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 19(5-6), 351-361.
  • Hobson E, Musson L & McDermott C (2017) . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 88(Suppl 1), A63.4-A64.
  • Waller R, Goodall EF, Milo M, Cooper-Knock J, Da Costa M, Hobson E, Kazoka M, Wollff H, Heath PR, Shaw P & Kirby J (2017) . Neurobiology of Aging, 55, 123-131.
  • Hobson EV, Fazal S, Shaw PJ & McDermott CJ (2017) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 18(5-6), 378-387.
  • McGeachan AJ, Hobson EV, Al-Chalabi A, Stephenson J, Chandran S, Crawley F, Dick D, Donaghy C, Ellis CM, Gorrie G , Hanemann OC et al (2016) . Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener.
  • Hobson EV, Harwood CA, McDermott CJ & Shaw PJ (2016) . Medicine, 44(9), 552-556.
  • Hobson EV & McDermott CJ (2016) . Nature Reviews Neurology, 12(9), 526-538.
  • Hobson EV, Baird W, Cooper C, Mawson S, Shaw P & Mcdermott C (2016) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 17(5-6), 313-324.
  • Nicholls Z, Hobson E, Martindale JA & Shaw PJ (2015) . Practical Neurology, 15(4), 280-283.
  • Hobson EV (2015) . Seizure, 25, 191-191.
  • McGeachan AJ, Hobson EV, Shaw PJ & McDermott CJ (2014) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 16(1-2), 108-113.
  • Hobson EV, McGeachan A, Al-Chalabi A, Chandran S, Crawley F, Dick D, Donaghy C, Ealing J, Ellis CM, Gorrie G , Hanemann CO et al (2013) . Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener, 14(7-8), 521-527.
  • Davis J, Banks I, Wrigley D, Peedell C, Pollock A, McPherson K, McKee M, Irving WL, Crome P, Greenhalgh T , Holland W et al (2013) . BMJ, 346(mar20 5), f1819-f1819.
  • Hobson EV, Endean K, Longford C, Randall M & Venables G (2013) Thrombolysis in acute stroke in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. Evaluating performance and learning lessons. CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES, 35, 666-666.
  • Endean KR, Hobson EV, Longford C, Randall MS & Venables GS (2013) Developing a regional telestroke service: The South Yorkshire Experience. CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES, 35, 673-673.
  • Hobson EV, Craven I & Blank SC (2012) . Perit Dial Int, 32(6), 590-594.
  • Hobson EV (2011) . The Clinical Teacher, 8(3), 214-214.
  • Hobson EV & Sharrack B (2011) . Clinical Investigation, 1(7), 1049-1058.
  • Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Burtenshaw A & Hobson E (2007) . Human Nature, 18(2), 125-131.

Conference proceedings

  • Carlton J, Powell P, Williams C, Griffiths A, Hobson E & McDermott C (2024) Developing a novel outcome measure to assess the impact of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A study protocol. QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, Vol. 33 (pp S111-S111)
  • Moore HLJ, Abu Baker AM, Baster K, Hobson E, Paling D, Sharrack B & Nair KPS (2022) Long-term unmet needs in multiple sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 28(3_SUPPL) (pp 722-723)
  • Abu Baker AM, Moore H, Baster K, Hobson E, Paling D, Sharrack B & Nair KPS (2022) LUN-MS: validity, reliability and acceptability of a new questionnaire to identify the unmet needs of people with multiple sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 28(3_SUPPL) (pp 474-474)
  • James T, Hobson E, Mupambo N & McDermott C (2019) Monitoring and promoting effectiveness and adherence to non-invasive ventilation in motor neurone disease using Encore Anywhere telemonitoring: a pilot and feasibility, randomised controlled trial. NEUROLOGY, Vol. 92(15)
  • Hobson E, Baxter S, Pryde E, Reed H, Spronson L, Soreny C, White S & McDermott C (2018) . Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Vol. 61 (pp e521-e521)

Preprints

  • Musson LS, Mitic N, Leigh-Valero V, Onambele-Pearson G, Knox L, Steyn FJ, Holdom CJ, Dick TJM, van Eijk RPA, van Unnik JWJ , Botman LCM et al (2024) , JMIR Publications Inc..
  • Weinreich M, McDonough H, Yacovzada N, Magen I, Cohen Y, Harvey C, Gornall S, Boddy S, Alix J, Mohseni N , Kurz JM et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Knox L, Coates E, Griffiths A, Ali Y, Hobson E & McDermott C (2024) , JMIR Publications Inc..
  • Rose L, Thaventhiran T, Hobson E, Rogers R, James K, Chu P, Carter B, Faull C, Saha S, Lee JS , Kaltsaka G et al (2023) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Tse GH, Hadjivassiliou M, Devgire V, Hobson E, Connolly DJA & Hoggard N (2021) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • van Eijk RPA, Beelen A, Kruitwagen ET, Murray D, Radakovic R, Hobson E, Knox L, Helleman J, Burke T, Rubio Pérez M , Reviers E et al () .
Teaching interests

Course co-lead for the MSc in Clinical Neurology at the University of Sheffield. She supervises undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research students. I have an interest in curriculum and teaching innovation and the use of digital learning for healthcare professionals.

Awards

National Institute for Health Academic Clinical Fellowship, University of Sheffield, 2012-2014

National Institute for Health Doctoral Research Fellowship, University of Sheffield 2014-2017

National Institute for Health Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, University of Sheffield 2018-2019

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