DIVERSE
PD
DIVERSE
PD
Meet the Team
DIVERSE-PD is led by a team of researchers and clinicians at University College London (UCL), led by Professor Henry Houlden, working together to better understand the genetic causes of Parkinson’s disease.
We bring together expertise in neurology, clinical genetics and Parkinson’s disease research, with a shared commitment to making research more inclusive and representative of the people affected by the condition.
Meet the people behind DIVERSE-PD and learn more about their roles in advancing our research.
Professor Henry Houlden is a Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and serves as the Clinical Lead for Neurogenetics at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. He plays a key role on the Genomics England board for rare diseases as part of the 100,000 Genomes Project.
His clinical expertise covers neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy (MSA), ataxia, DRPLA, dementias, leukodystrophies, spastic paraplegia, and neuromuscular conditions. His research focuses on neurogenetics, particularly Parkinson’s in underrepresented populations, using novel genomic approaches.
He is interested in studying ethnic diversity in underrepresented populations and has contributed to the discovery of many disease genes. His work integrates long-read sequencing with functional validation to understand the genetic basis of neurological conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment. He has over 700 publications in leading scientific journals, advancing neurogenetics worldwide.
Prof Sir John Hardy is a world-leading neurogeneticist in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, receiving numerous accolades that include the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Brain Prize, election as a Fellow of the Royal Society and, in 2022, a knighthood for his contributions to science and health. In 1991, Hardy's team uncovered the first mutation directly implicated in Alzheimer's disease leading to the formulation of the highly influential 'amyloid-cascade' hypothesis. His extensive body of work in genetics is built upon in the UK DRI programme, where his team unravel pathogenic networks in neurodegenerative disease.
More recently, John has worked on Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, with an increasing focus on the genetic analysis of complex traits related to disease. He has a specific interest in population genetics and its capacity to reveal differing traits between ethnic populations.
Dr. Viorica Chelban is a clinical academic neurologist at the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London (UK). Dr. Chelban specializes in translational research in neurodegeneration, focusing on genomics, biomarkers, and patient-centered care. Her contributions to neurogenetics include the discovery of three novel disease-causing genes, elucidation of disease mechanisms, and identification of a treatment for one genetic disorder.
As founder and coordinator of the UK MSA Network and biobank, she has established a pioneering resource integrating biosamples, clinical data, and neuroimaging to advance multiple system atrophy (MSA) researchutilizing advanced sequencing techniques, biomarker validation, and quality-of-care evaluation. She leads drug trial delivery for MSA at UCL and UK-wide.
Her research on neurodegeneration earned prestigious awards, including the 2019 & 2021 Tournament of Neurologists in Training Award (European Academy of Neurology) and the 2022 Queen Square Prize in Neurology (UCL).
Dr. Reza Maroofian is a geneticist at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, specializing in the genetic and clinical characterization of hereditary neurological disorders. He earned his PhD from St. George’s University of London and the University of Exeter in 2018. Dr. Maroofian’s research focuses on identifying the genetic causes of rare, undiagnosed neurological conditions, with a particular interest in paediatric and young adult populations.
He has led international collaborations that have uncovered several ultra-rare diseases and contributed to building a global research network for rare disorders. His work emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches and the importance of data sharing to advance scientific discovery. Dr. Maroofian is also passionate about science communication, public engagement, and mentoring the next generation of scientists and clinicians. His research has been published in leading medical journals, highlighting his commitment to improving patient outcomes through genetic discovery.
Rahema Mohammad is a neurogenetics researcher and PhD candidate based at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, working on global studies of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Her PhD focuses on the application of long-read sequencing and transcriptomic approaches to investigate Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy (MSA), and related neurodegenerative disorders across diverse populations.
Rahema contributes to large-scale international neurogenetics collaborations spanning Africa, Central Asia, Europe, and South Asia, contributing to genomic data integration, data processing workflows, and collaborative translational research initiatives spanning neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, inherited, and rare neurological disorders. She works closely with academic, clinical, and industry collaborators to help integrate emerging sequencing technologies and long-read sequencing approaches into translational neurogenetics research and genomic research infrastructure.
Dr Michael Wride is a Clinical Research Fellow at the UCL Institute of Neurology and a Neurology Registrar at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London. He also works with the Movement Disorders team at Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust to provide patients across London with access to Parkinson's research.
His research focuses on the relationship between genes and symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, with a particular interest in the prodromal features of early-onset disease and under-represented populations.
Mike is committed to broadening participation in Parkinson’s genetic research by working with communities across the UK through organisations such as Parkinson's UK and the UK Dementia Research Institute. Through his clinical and research work, he aims to support a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to Parkinson’s research, ensuring that people from diverse backgrounds are better represented in genetic studies.
Shilpan Patel
Dr Shilpan Patel is a Clinical Neurology Fellow at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, and a clinician-researcher from Aotearoa New Zealand. His clinical and research interests focus on neurogenetics, particularly the genetic basis of Parkinson’s disease, inherited movement disorders, and ataxias.
His research explores how genetic variation influences disease susceptibility, clinical presentation, and progression, with a particular interest in understanding why individuals with the same genetic disorder can experience markedly different outcomes. He has been involved in characterising a large cohort of individuals with PINK1-associated Parkinson’s disease and investigating potential genetic modifiers of disease expression.
Shilpan is passionate about improving the representation of diverse and historically underrepresented populations in neurological research, including previous work with Māori and Pacific communities. Through international collaboration and the integration of clinical phenotyping with advanced genomic technologies, he hopes to improve genetic diagnosis, deepen our understanding of neurological disease, and contribute to more equitable and personalised care for patients.
Reagan
Lee
Reagan is a Research Technician and PhD student at the Neurogenetics Laboratory, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. His work combines physical, computational and project coordination expertise across a range of research initiatives, including DIVERSE-PD. His technical activities span multiple stages of research, from biosample processing and biobanking to genomic analysis using short-read and long-read sequencing technologies, supporting numerous projects to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neurological disorders.
His doctoral research focuses on advancing diagnostic and prognostic strategies for rare and common neurogenetic disorders, encompassing both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions.
Through his technical and research contributions, Reagan is committed to leveraging cutting-edge genomic technologies and fostering international research collaborations to advance precision medicine and support more effective, equitable and accessible neurological healthcare.
Our Partners and Supporters
These organizations help make the DIVERSE-PD study possible through their commitment to genetic research and patient representation.
