The UK DRI and Parkinson’s UK are delighted to announce the appointment of Prof Miratul Muqit as the inaugural Centre Director for the Parkinson’s Research Centre. Prof Muqit is a world leader in Parkinson’s research, having made major contributions to understanding Parkinson’s genetic risk.
Currently Professor of Experimental Neurology and Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Co-Investigator at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee, Prof Muqit studied Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University before completing a PhD at UCL. He was elected an EMBO Young Investigator in 2017, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2020, and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023.
Prof Muqit’s laboratory at Dundee is world-renowned after making fundamental discoveries of how mutations in two genes - PINK1 and PRKN - lead to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria in brain cells. This has contributed to the development of targeted therapies designed to remove damaged mitochondria which entered Phase 1 trials for Parkinson’s patients last year.
It is an absolute honour to lead the new UK DRI Parkinson’s Research Centre in partnership with Parkinson’s UK. As a practising neurologist I am acutely aware of the lack of disease-modifying therapies for people with Parkinson’s.
Centre Director
Launched earlier this year, the £10m centre has been established with the aim of identifying new approaches to Parkinson’s prediction and prevention, alongside the development and testing of new treatments to prevent the onset, and slow or even reverse the progression of the condition. Prof Muqit’s appointment marks a key milestone in the Centre’s creation.
Of his vision for the Centre, Prof Muqit explained:
“My vision is to build a centre fully integrated with people with Parkinson’s and which will become one of the world’s leading centres for discovery science and translation that will deliver new ideas for better diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s in the future. In my role I will make the Centre a beacon for open science and collaboration with researchers all over the UK and globally to deliver for people with Parkinson’s.”
Prof Siddharthan Chandran said:
“We are thrilled to welcome Professor Miratul Muqit to the UK DRI. A recognised leader in Parkinson’s research, I am confident that the Centre will thrive under his direction and deliver significant advancements for people affected by Parkinson’s.”
Prof David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, added:
“Miratul’s passion for, and expertise in, patient focused Parkinson’s research is clear. It’s an ethos and approach we share at Parkinson’s UK making him a natural choice. He’s a great hire for the Centre, one that I’m sure will set us up for success. With him in post, we look forward to seeing the team he builds around him.”
Prof Muqit will host the virtual centre from the University of Edinburgh. Recruitment for new national Group Leader positions will begin shortly.
