Cohort 
2020

Miguel Rentería, PhD

Human Geneticist, Data Scientist & Policy Analyst

As a society, we need to build bridges between researchers, clinicians, society, and policymakers.

Current Work

In his work, Miguel applies computational and statistical methods to generate biological insights and improve understanding of complex human brain-related traits. His interests range from brain structure to psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. He is also interested in bridging the gap between science, industry, and policy and decision-makers.

Personal Hero

Michael J. Fox

Words of Strength

Building bridges between people, cultures, and disciplines

Vision

Miguel believes we need to build bridges between researchers, clinicians, patients, NGOs, and policymakers to work together and address the pressing challenges associated with aging, brain health, and the relationship between mental health and chronic illness.

Strategy

Miguel leverages clinical, genetic and brain imaging and other biomarker data and advanced quantitative methods to understand brain diseases. He focuses on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and self-harm, but has also researched conditions such as chronic pain and sleep disorders. He has also developed evidence-based policy reports for different organizations. One of Miguel’s personal goals is to advocate to increase the representation of underserved and understudied populations in medical research, so the benefits of research can be available to everyone. He is the principal investigator of the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), and a co-investigator of TwinsMX: The Mexican Twin Registry, and the Mexican Network of Parkinson’s Research (MEX-PD).

Impact

Miguel is conducting genetics research about the genetic risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia in diverse populations. As part of his fellowship at GBHI, he was awarded a grant from the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) to expand the scope of the multi-site MEX-PD Parkinson’s cohort. 

Motivation

Mexico, like the rest of Latin America, is culturally, ethnically, and environmentally diverse. Its population has a complex and mixed genetic makeup. This offers unique opportunities for genetics and medical research, including scientific questions pertaining to dementia and brain health.

Education & Experience

Miguel holds a PhD in Human Genetics from The University of Queensland (Australia) and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford (UK). He was an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (USA) and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (Australia). He was Director of the Office of Science & Technology for the Mexican Congress. He is currently an Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellow and Principal Investigator (Team Head) of the Computational Neurogenomics Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and honorary Associate Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences of The University of Queensland. 

The University of Queensland
current
Honorary Associate Professor
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Head, Computational Genomics Lab
current
Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellow
Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI)
current
Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (USA) and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (Australia)
NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow
University of Queensland (Australia)
Human Genetics
PhD
University of Oxford (UK)
Master of Public Policy

Awards & Honors

Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation
2023-2027
Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship
European Headache Federation & Italian Society for the Study of Migraine
2021
Enrico Greppi International Award
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC)
2016–2020
Dementia Research Development Fellow
University of Oxford
2015–2016
Chevening Scholar

Videos

Podcasts

SBS Espanol podcast image

SBS Español

Científico Mexicano Busca Curar el Parkinson con Proyecto en Australia

January 4, 2024