Miguel E. Rentería
Dr | NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Fellow
+61 7 38453584miguel.renteria@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Renteria’s work lies at the intersection of genetics and neuroscience. Miguel applies computational and statistical methods to understand the basis of complex human traits and diseases. In particular, we leverage large datasets with genomic and neuroimaging data to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and post-GWAS analyses.
Current research interests cover a wide range of predominantly age-related or sleep-related conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, cataracts, sleep apnoea, snoring, insomnia, chronic pain, major depression, self-harm, and suicidal behaviour.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
- Research Officer, Department of Genetics & Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
- Honorary Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland (UQ)
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Neurology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Research Officer, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute & NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
M-6671-2017
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
- Genetics of Parkinson’s disease risk, clinical heterogeneity, treatment response and progression
- Neuroimaging (MRI) and genetic biomarkers for suicidal and non-suicidal behaviours
- Epidemiological and genetic investigations of sleep-related disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnoea, and their relationship with physical and mental health
- Epidemiological and genetic investigations of chronic pain
- Integrative ‘omics’ approaches to understand molecular mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, using post-mortem brain tissue
- Impact of genetic predisposition to late-onset neurodegenerative disorders in early life outcomes
- Genetics of other psychiatric diseases, including major depression and anorexia nervosa
- Genetic epidemiology of underrepresented admixed populations (e.g. Mexican Biobank, Mexican Twin Registry)
- Social, ethical and policy implications of emerging topics in genetics and neuroscience
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Researchers awake to the genetic causes of snoring and sleep apnoea – The Sydney Morning Herald
- Researchers discover genetic link to self-harm ideas and actions – Brisbane Times
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- Master of Public Policy, University of Oxford, UK
- PhD in Human Genetics, The University of Queensland, Australia
- BSc in Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico