Calum Sutherland, a PhD student in Philip Cohen’s lab from 1993 to 1996, has been promoted to Professor of Molecular Medicine in the School of Medicine, University of Dundee. Calum graduated with a B.Sc.

Mutations in genes encoding PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) and the ubiquitin E3 ligase Parkin are associated with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Our flagship DSTT (Division of Signal Transduction Therapy) collaboration with pharmaceutical companies is still going remarkably strongly after 20 years. Founded in 1998, it is believed to be one of the longest continuous collaborations between academia and pharmaceutical companies.

As part of the Lister Prize that Yogesh Kulathu received last year, he has delivered a keynote lecture at the University of Dundee entitled “Reversing ubiquitylation: Mechanisms and functions of Deubiquitinases”.

We are delighted to announce that MRC-PPU PI Miratul Muqit has been promoted to the rank of Professor.

Miratul joined the MRC-PPU after he completed his clinical neurology training in 2008, to investigate the role of the Parkinson's disease PINK1 protein kinase that he played a key role in uncovering during his PhD in the laboratory of Nicholas Wood (UCL).

Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5/STK9) is a poorly understood protein kinase mutated in CDKL5 disorder. This disease is characterized by seizure onset before 3 months of age, severely impaired gross motor, language and hand skills and subtle but shared physical characteristics.

Metformin has been used as a first-line drug for the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes for over 60 years. The mechanism by which metformin lowers glucose levels in the blood has been controversial.

Dr Greg Findlay, a group leader in the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) at the University of Dundee, has been awarded a prestigious Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and Royal Society.

One of the UK’s leading researchers into Parkinson’s disease has received a major funding award to continue with his groundbreaking work.

Laureation address by Dario Alessi, 22nd June 2018

Vice-Chancellor, I have the honour to present for the degree of doctor of laws honoris causa, Dr Michel Goedert. Michel has undertaken pioneering studies that have made major contributions to unravelling our understanding of several brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.