Laura Caton, BSc,MSc

• Genomics
• Whole genome sequencing
• Neurogenetics
• Functional genomics
• Allele frequencies
• GBA1
• Parkinson's disease
• Proteomics
• RNAseq
• Sequencing

I am a PhD student at UCL utilising the newest long-read sequencing technologies to investigate Parkinson’s Disease in populations of African ancestry. I will be working as part of the Nigerian GBA1 gp2 discovery follow-up study. Before starting my PhD, I worked for two years at Queen Mary University of London’s genomics core facility, the Genome Centre, where I handled diverse projects including whole genome, exome, and transcriptome library preparation, sequencing, and bioinformatics. In 2021, I graduated with distinction in the Genetics of Human Disease MSc from UCL, finishing top of my class and earning Dean’s List recognition. My MSc research with Prof. Gavin Arno employed Oxford Nanopore sequencing to study splice defects in rare neuro-ophthalmic diseases. I am passionate about closing the research gap for under-represented populations and excited to expand my expertise working with the brilliant gp2 community.