Miguel E. Rentería
Associate Professor | Team Head
+61 7 3845 3584miguel.renteria@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Associate Professor Miguel Rentería leads the Computational Neurogenomics Lab in the Mental Health & Neuroscience Program at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. He is the recipient of a prestigious Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship from the Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation, and an honorary Global Atlantic Fellow of the Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco.
He holds a degree in Genomic Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Human Genetics from The University of Queensland. Previously, he was also an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow, which enabled him to conduct postdoctoral training at the APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Research in the Department of Neurology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in the United States.
Miguel has received many accolades, including the 2021 Enrico Greppi International Migraine Research Award, a Chevening scholarship, and honorary membership in Mexico’s National System of Investigators.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
- Team Head, Computational Neurogenomics Lab, Mental Health & Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
- Honorary Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland (UQ)
- Global Atlantic Fellow (Honorary), Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco & Trinity College Dublin
PREVIOUS 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)
- 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
The research team uses advanced data analytics and large global datasets to study the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to neuropsychiatric diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, chronic pain, dementia, and self-harm.
Associate Professor Rentería is the Principal Investigator of the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study, which aims to decode the genetic sequence of Parkinson’s disease to enable the development of novel therapies. The project, made possible through the support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Shake It Up Australia Foundation, is recruiting thousands of volunteers from across the country. To learn more, visit: www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/apgs
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Neuroscientist recognised as rising research star with prestigious Fellowship
- Researchers awake to the genetic causes of snoring and sleep apnoea – The Sydney Morning Herald
- Better acne treatments in sight after genetic discovery
- Researchers discover genetic link to self-harm ideas and actions – Brisbane Times
- Differences in brain structure linked to suicide attempts
- Entrevista para SBS en Español
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