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Meet The Team

Lab group Pic

PhD students

Niamh O'Brien has just started her PhD into the genetics of bipolar disorder in the Molecular Psychiatry Lab in UCL. She studied Human Genetics in Trinity College Dublin for her undergraduate degree and she specialised in genetic disorders, with a specific focus on affective disorders.  Since she started in October 2011, she has been looking at genes involved with calcium channels and her project is well underway.

Giorgia Quadri completed her undergraduate at the University of Kent in Biology and specialised, during her masters at University College London, in the genetics of human disease. Now doing her PhD, she is particuarly interested in the genetics of Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome. Giorgia is also working with the Brain Damage Research Trust to further research into this field.

Michael Way is doing his PhD in to the genetics of alcohol dependence syndrome and alcoholic liver disease. He completed his undergraduate degree in 2011 in Biochemistry at University of Bristol. He is currently looking at genes associated with both of these disorders. Michael is also working with the Royal Free Hospital, Department of Heptalogy to bring these research groups together!

Jon Weymer's PhD research is focussed on the antipsychotic clozapine and a novel mechanism of action involving protein trafficking within the cell. Alongside this he is investigating whether individuals with schizophrenia harbour mutations in genes encoding the proteins involved in cellular transport.

We also have Yi Ling working with us on the genetics of bipolar disorder.

Clinical and recruitment staff

Dr Greg Lydall (Psychiatrist) and Alex Narula are currently coordinating recruitment. The aim is to increase the number of people involved in genetics research as much as possible because the more people involved the more certain we can be of the results!

Post-Doctoral Staff

We have two post doctoral staff, Sally Sharp and Alessia Fiorentino. They are both investigating genetic hits associated with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. 

Senior Staff

Statistician, Bob Blizzard, is helping us with the computer-based statistical analysis of the genetics research across all areas. Andrew McQuillin is a senior lecturer, see his website for list of publications: http://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=AMCQU28.

Professor David Curtis is also conducting association analysis using UK10K data. Check out his home page for more information: http://www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/statgen/dcurtis.html

Our chief investigator is Prof Hugh Gurling, a psychiatrist who has been conducting genetics research for over 30 years! Please see his homepage for list of publications: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/slms/people/show.php?personid=195

Page last modified on 29 nov 12 15:59