Dr Muqit, who combines being a Consultant Neurologist at Ninewells Hospital treating patients with the Parkinson’s disease, with cutting-edge research into better understanding the causes of this disabling condition at the MRC PPU, has been awarded the 2018 Graham Bull Prize in Clinical Science and Goulstonian Lecture of the Royal College of Physicians.

This highly sought-after prize is presented to Clinician researchers under the age of 45 who have made a major contribution to clinical science. The Goulstonian Lecture was endowed in memory of Dr Theodore Goulston and has remarkably been bestowed every year since 1639. The Graham Bull Prize was established in 1988 in honour of Sir Graham Bull who was the first director of the MRC Clinical Research Centre at Northwick Park in London.

Miratul is the first Dundee-based Clinician to receive this award, which recognises a series of discoveries that he has made that has led to a much better understanding of Parkinson’s disease.

Supported by a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship, Miratul showed that agents that induce mitochondrial depolarisation stimulate PINK1 catalytic activity by an as yet unknown mechanism. He also found that PINK1 once activated phosphorylates both Parkin and ubiquitin at an analogous conserved residue termed Serine 65. Miratul’s work further demonstrated that PINK1-phosphorylated ubiquitin binds to Parkin promoting the phosphorylation of Parkin by PINK1 resulting in maximal Parkin activation. Recently Miratul has also discovered a new pathway by which PINK1 regulates the phosphorylation of a family of Rab GTPases, which is the focus of much current research in his laboratory.

Miratul said “I am thrilled to receive this honour which is a reflection of the talent and dedication of the scientists in my research lab. This award also highlights the fantastic research and clinical environment in Dundee. I am also grateful to all the finding bodies that have supported our research including the Wellcome Trust, MRC, Parkinson’s UK and the J Macdonald Menzies Charitable Trust”.

Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU added: “This is wonderful recognition for the research that Miratul and his lab are undertaking to piece together biology that is so relevant to better understanding and treating Parkinson’s disease. It’s indeed a rare privilege to receive an award that has been given out for approaching 380 years - this must be one of the words longest running awards. I also note that Miratul is the first Clinician from Scotland to receive this award in 40 years. Previous recipients of this award include some of the UK’s well-known physician scientists such as Peter Ratcliffe, Mark Walport, and Patrick Maxwell - so Miratul is in good company!”.

Professor John Connell, Chairman of NHS Tayside, said, “I am delighted that Dr Muqit has been recognised by the Royal College of Physicians in this way. He is an outstanding clinical scientist and his work on Parkinson's disease is truly at the cutting edge of helping to identify new opportunities for understanding the disease process and possible treatments".