Professor Manju Kurian is a Professor of Neurogenetics and NIHR Research Professor at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.
She is also a Consultant
Paediatric Neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
After graduating from Cambridge University, she trained in Paediatrics before
subspecialising in Paediatric Neurology. At the end of her clinical training, she
undertook a PhD (University of Birmingham) investigating the molecular genetic basis
of childhood neurological disorders (2007-2011). She moved to UCL after her PhD,
and is now an independent Principal Investigator at the Institute of Child Health.
She has been awarded a Wellcome Intermediate Fellowship (2012-2017), L’Oreal For
Women in Science Award (2017), NIHR Professorship (2017-2022), ICNA Jon Stobo
Award (2018) and the The Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Research (2019-2024).
Her grant income exceeds £10 million and she has >170 peer reviewed publications
including works in Nature Genetics, Science, Science Translational Medicine and
Lancet Neurology.
Scientific Focus
Her current research encompasses gene discovery for childhood neurological
disorders, including early onset epilepsy, neurodegeneration and movement disorders.
Her lab uses mainly cell models to investigate the underlying pathological basis of
disease. She works closely with UCL Gene Therapy groups to develop novel therapeutic
strategies for children with pharmacoresistant movement disorders. Her long term
goal is to translate her research for patient benefit, through improved clinical diagnosis
and precision medicine approaches.