Associate Professor in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Reading
My research is focused on understanding the molecular pathways that lead to inherited Parkinson's disease linked to mutations in Leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). Mutations in this gene are the single most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease, affecting 5-10,000 people in the UK alone.
LRRK2 itself is a multidomain enzyme, possessing both kinase and GTPase activities, and much of my work over the past 8 years has been directed at dissecting how mutations impact on these activities, and how they regulate one another. To do this, my group uses a combination of cellular and biochemical approaches, including cellular models for LRRK2 function and in vitro enzymatic assays.
We have a particular interest in investigating proteins closely related to LRRK2 as a means to achieving a greater understanding of how LRRK2 itself functions. Our research has highlighted a putative role for LRRK2 in the regulation of autophagy.
Parkinson's: four unusual signs you may be at risk
Apr 27, 2019 06:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Health
Do you move around a lot during your sleep? Or have you lost your sense of smell? New insights into Parkinsons disease suggest that these might be the early signs of changes in the brain that mean you are at greater risk...
Discovering dopamine's role in the brain: Arvid Carlsson's important legacy
Jul 09, 2018 14:25 pm UTC| Science
Arvid Carlsson, the Swedish neuroscientist and Nobel laureate, died on June 29, 2018 at the age of 95. He had devoted his life to understanding how the brain works and was awarded the Nobel for his research into dopamine ...
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