"It is my pleasure to present the Institute’s annual report, highlighting the amazing research and impact that our incredible teams have delivered over this past year.
As we look forward to the next 70 years, our fantastic new £281m translational neuroscience facility on Gray’s Inn Road will open in the 24/25 academic year. It is a privilege to lead a fantastic team of researchers, clinicians, and professional services staff who are committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of neurological diseases. We are at the forefront of tackling some of the most challenging and complex diseases facing society.
Over the past year, we have made significant progress. We published over 1900 peer-reviewed articles, secured over £50m in new grants and currently hold over £350m in active grant funding. Our teams have global influence, presenting their findings at major international conferences and collaborating locally, nationally, and internationally. Examples of our accomplishments can be found in this report.
We recently established a new Genetic Therapies Accelerator Group, led by Professor Francesco Muntoni, and recruited the first ION translational research manager; all to accelerate our mission of improving the lives of people with neurological diseases. We also welcome Professor Fiona Ducotterd as the new Chief Scientific Officer of the ARUK Drug Discovery Institute. We continue to work closely with the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), and welcome the appointment of Professor Siddharthan Chandran as the new UK DRI director, based at the UK DRI HQ at UCL.
One of our most important areas of focus is equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), which is essential to promote a vibrant successful and innovative scientific community. A welcoming and inclusive environment is essential for all staff and students to thrive, and our active EDI programme has implemented a number of initiatives to make this a reality. We also prioritise sustainability in all our activities. We understand that our research and education efforts have a significant impact on the world around us, and we’re committed to minimising our environmental footprint. Updates on initiatives in these areas can be found throughout this report.
I want to thank Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences and all the Faculty team for their great support. I would like to thank all our supporters. Whether through research partnerships, financial contributions, or volunteering, your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated. I particularly want to thank all patients and families who are our partners in clinical research. I am confident that the Institute will continue to lead internationally and make discoveries which we will translate into health benefits to improve the lives of people with neurological diseases.
I hope you find this report informative and enjoyable".
Professor Michael Hanna, Director, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.
"It has been a pleasure putting together this annual review and seeing the amazing achievements of the Institute over the past year. It is with great pride we now share this with you; our community of colleagues, partners, and supporters. Our achievements are a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation and although only a fraction of our work is captured in these pages, we hope it gives a sense of the incredible impact we are making in translational neuroscience."
Professor Selina Wray, Deputy Director for Communications and Partnerships, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.
The Annual Review was launched at the Institute's Annual Address on 2nd November 2023. It features examples of research impact in Huntington's Disease and Arterial Spin Labelling, interviews with Professor Lignani, Professor Fiona Ducotterd and Professor Rimona Weil on gene therapy in epilepsy, ARUK DDI and Patterns of Perception in Parkinson’s disease respectively, as well as success in 2023 senior and early career promotions, and the year's activities at the Grays Inn Road site, including the Public Art programme. These achievements are complimented by reports on ION-wide EDI and Sustainability initiatives, and Educational activities, including student testimonials.
The Annual Review was produced in collaboration with Design Science and is available as an interactive document containing text, images and videos.