UKDRI
Parkinson's

People

The UK DRI Parkinson’s thematic network was established in March 2022 and is led by Dr Tim Bartels (UK DRI at UCL) and Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly (UK DRI at Cardiff). The network is managed by Dr Ruby Wallis (UK DRI Core Team) and has an Early Career Researcher (ECR) steering group to coordinate ECR activities. 

The strengths and expertise in Parkinson's research at the UK DRI include:

  • Genetics and epigenetics (Hardy, Ryten, Marzi, Mallach, Skene, Nott)
  • Alpha-synuclein biology (Bartels, Klenerman)
  • Gut-brain axis (Hong, Bartels)
  • Digital, fluid and imaging biomarkers (Zetterberg, Sandor, Haar, Lally)
  • Synapse biology (Beccano-Kelly, Spires-Jones)
  • Proteostasis (Rubinsztein)
  • Mitochondrial function (Balmus)
  • Stem cell models (Webber, Beccano-Kelly, Selvaraj, Chandran, Bowles)
  • Functional genomics (Bowles, Webber)
  • Robotics (Vaidyanathan)
  • Neuromodulation (Grossman) 

The Parkinson's thematic network also has a large interest group composing of both national and international researchers, and a network of ECRs from across the UK. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Parkinson's Theme Manager Dr Ruby Wallis.

Three people stand at the front of a room at a conference

Parkinson's network Group Leader meeting in 2024

John Hardy

Prof Sir John Hardy

Group Leader

UK DRI at UCL

Harnessing genetics to build a better understanding of dementia

Learn more Prof Sir John Hardy
Soyon Hong

Dr Soyon Hong

Group Leader

UK DRI at UCL

Dissecting pathways by which microglia contribute to region-specific synapse dysfunction in neurodegeneration

Learn more Dr Soyon Hong
David Klenerman

Prof Sir David Klenerman

Group Leader

UK DRI at Cambridge

Determining how protein clumps form, damage the brain and change as the different neurodegenerative diseases develop to know which ones to target for therapies

Learn more Prof Sir David Klenerman
Pete Lally

Dr Pete Lally

Emerging Leader

UK DRI Care Research & Technology at Imperial

Quantifying microstructural injury in the substantia nigra of people living with Parkinson’s

Learn more Dr Pete Lally
anna mallach profile

Dr Anna Mallach

Emerging Leader

UK DRI at Imperial

Understanding microglial interactions in Parkinson’s and how changes in cellular interactions drive cell death

Learn more Dr Anna Mallach
Sarah Marzi profile

Dr Sarah Marzi

Group Leader

UK DRI at King's

Investigating how epigenetics regulates biological mechanisms in health and disease

Learn more Dr Sarah Marzi
Profile picture of Alexi Nott

Dr Alexi Nott

Group Leader

UK DRI at Imperial

Investigating how the epigenome regulates cell type specific gene expression in ageing-related brain disorders

Learn more Dr Alexi Nott
David Rubinsztein

Prof David Rubinsztein

Group Leader

UK DRI at Cambridge

Deciphering the link between neurodegeneration and autophagy

Learn more Prof David Rubinsztein
Mina Ryten

Prof Mina Ryten

Centre Director

UK DRI at Cambridge

Leveraging brain transcriptomics to understand the pathophysiology of Lewy body diseases

Learn more Prof Mina Ryten
Cynthia Sandor

Dr Cynthia Sandor

Group Leader

UK DRI at Imperial

Developing new ways to detect and monitor Parkinson’s

Learn more Dr Cynthia Sandor
Bhuvaneish Selvaraj

Dr Bhuvaneish Selvaraj

Emerging Leader

UK DRI at Edinburgh

Using disruptive technologies to decipher the underlying mechanisms that lead to neuron degeneration in ALS

Learn more Dr Bhuvaneish Selvaraj
Nathan Skene

Dr Nathan Skene

Group Leader

UK DRI at Imperial

Identifying the cell types and intracellular processes affected by the genetic loci which underlie neurodegenerative diseases

Learn more Dr Nathan Skene