Paul Ashwood is an associate professor of immunology at the MIND Institute at the University of California Davis. His lab conducts research regarding the potential role of immune system disorders in autism, as well as other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Fragile X syndrome, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia and mood disorders. According to Brian Deer, Ashwood was formerly one of Andrew Wakefield's colleagues at Royal Free Hospital, and received over £8,000 as a result of his serving as a paid witness in MMR vaccine litigation.