19 December 2013
Royal College of Physicians honour for Dundee scientist
Dr Miratul Muqit, of the University of Dundee, has been awarded the prestigious 2013 Linacre Medal and Prize Lecture
of the Royal College of Physicians.
The award recognises recent advances which Dr Muqit and his research group have made in understanding the role
of enzymes which underlie neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.
Dr Muqit is a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow and Programme Leader in the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit in the College of Life Sciences at Dundee.
'I am delighted to be awarded the Linacre Medal, which is really a reflection of the work done by all in my lab in making
the key advances in our research,' said Dr Muqit. 'Our research has also benefitted hugely from the outstanding
research environment and resources provided by the MRC unit and College of Life Sciences.'
Dr Muqit's research has shed light on the function of a protein kinase called PINK1 that is mutated in families
with Parkinson's disease. The findings have led to new ideas to potentially monitor and treat the disorder
and he will discuss this in his Linacre lecture, which will take place in London next year.
Founded in 1518, the Royal College of Physicians is England's oldest medical institution and the Linacre Lecture is
the College's most distinguished lecture for Physicians under the age of 40. Dr Muqit, who is also a Consultant
Neurologist at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, is the first Scottish-based recipient of the lecture since 1991.
Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC-PPU, said, 'Miratul is undertaking fabulous research into understanding how
PINK1 and Parkin enzymes involved in Parkinson's disease are regulated and function. Miratul's research is starting
to lead to significant new understanding of how this system operates and how mutations in PINK1 or Parkin results in
Parkinson's. This is very important work that could lead to new improved therapies for this condition.
This award is richly deserved.'
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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