We are delighted to announce that Prof Mina Ryten (UK DRI at Cambridge) and Prof Jernej Ule (UK DRI at King’s) have today been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship for their exceptional research into neurodegenerative conditions.
The 54 new Fellows have been recognised for their remarkable contributions to advancing medical science, groundbreaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and the wider public.
left-right: Prof Mina Ryten & Prof Jernej Ule
Prof Mina Ryten is a clinician scientist dedicated to uncovering the genetic foundations of neurological diseases through the study of human brain RNA expression. Her research uses gene expression data to shed light on the mechanisms driving neurodegenerative conditions. In her work on complex neurological disorders, Prof Ryten has developed and applied regulatory data from across the human brain to link genetic risk loci to specific genes and biological pathways. Over the past decade, her research has focused particularly on Parkinson’s disease, using brain transcriptomics to investigate disease progression to dementia.
Prof Ryten said:
“I’m deeply honoured to be elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences. This recognition reflects the dedication of an incredible team of young scientists, colleagues, and, above all, patients who have generously shared their time and brain tissue. I’m passionate about understanding the genetics of neurological diseases and hope our work brings us closer to better treatments for conditions like Parkinson’s.”
Prof Jernej Ule has over 20 years of experience in research, having established his first research group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge in 2006. His research is focused on the role of RNA in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). RNA interacts with proteins to form large complexes, and evidence suggests that changes in these interactions can lead to the characteristic toxic aggregates in neurodegenerative disease. Prof Ule aims to find out why this occurs and how to stop it using new therapeutics.
Prof Ule said:
"I am truly humbled to have been elected into the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Science. It’s been a privilege to work with outstanding and dedicated colleagues in this community. It is an honour to continue my work to understand the biological mechanism of neurodegeneration."
Prof Siddharthan Chandran, UK DRI Director, said:
“We are so proud that two of our Centre Directors, Mina and Jernej, have been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship. It is testament to the level of excellence within the institute, and their outstanding contributions to the field. Congratulations, both.”
Source: Academy of Medical Sciences
