Encephalitis International

Founded in 1994, Encephalitis International is the global non-profit authority on encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Our small but mighty team of 17 staff are based in Malton, North Yorkshire, where the charity was founded, but we have a global community. Worldwide one person is diagnosed with encephalitis every twenty seconds, yet 77% of people have never heard of this devastating brain condition. Our vision is bold: a world without death and disability from encephalitis. We achieve this by saving lives and rebuilding futures, accelerating awareness and driving research.

In January 2024 we completed a strategic evolution, rebranding from The Encephalitis Society to Encephalitis International, developing a new vision, mission and objectives as well as a more comprehensive evaluation process using Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to measure our success. Our highlights this past year include holding the only global conference on encephalitis for healthcare professionals – welcoming 515 delegates from 71 countries – reaching 15.1 million people directly through World Encephalitis Day 2025, with a campaign video showcased on billboards at Piccadilly Circus and Times Square, and launching the World Health Organization’s Technical Brief on encephalitis which will inspire projects that save thousands of lives globally.