Prof Manju Kurian

Professor Manju Kurian is a Professor of Neurogenetics and an NIHR Research Professor at University College London (UCL)-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK. She is also a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK. After graduating from the University of Cambridge, UK, she trained in Paediatrics before subspecialising in Paediatric Neurology. At the end of her clinical training, she undertook a PhD at the University of Birmingham, UK, investigating the molecular genetic basis of childhood neurological disorders (2007-2011). After her PhD, she moved to UCL, UK, and is now an independent Principal Investigator at the UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK. Professor Kurian 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 Sir 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. Professor Kurian’s current research encompasses gene discovery for childhood neurological disorders, including early onset epilepsy, neurodegeneration and movement disorders. Her research group 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.