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Prof David Curtis
Honorary Professor
Genetics, Evolution & Environment
Div of Biosciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st Jun 2011
Research summary
Since 1990 I collaborated with Hugh Gurling at the UCL Molecular Psychiatry Lab in research aimed at identifying genes affecting risk of mental illness. Initially we carried out linkage studies of families multiply affected with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Subsequently I have been involved in association studies and latterly studies using next generation sequencing data. Throughout this time I have also developed new statistical approaches and have written computer software to carry out genetic analyses. I am currently working on methods for detecting genetic variants affecting risk of complex diseases using large exome-sequenced datasets such as UK Biobank.
Teaching summary
I lecture on genetics and psychiatric genetics to medical students and human genetics students. I supervise undergraduate and MSc projects.
Biography
I qualified in medicine from Cambridge University and the Middlesex Hospital Medical School in 1985. I specialised in psychiatry on the University College Hospital and St Mary's Hospital rotations and began carrying out research in psychiatric and statistical genetics. I was awarded an MD from the University of London and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. In 1994 I was appointed Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry and in 1996 I was appointed as Consultant Psychiatrist in Tower Hamlets. I was appointed Honorary Professor at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2002 and at University College London in 2011. Between 2005 and 2009 I was also Clinical Director for Adult Mental Health Services in Tower Hamlets. I am currently Honorary Professor in the UCL Genetics Institute, University College London.