Mie Rizig

My research interest is studying the clinical and genetic diversity of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative conditions in black populations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora in the UK. In addition, I work with collaborators and institutions in several African countries aiming to improve research standards and education of health professionals, and to raise awareness of PD in patients, relatives, and communities. Before embarking on my current research, I completed a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship for 3 years with Prof. Nick Wood at the UCL, Institute of Neurology, recruiting and characterizing a large cohort of PD patients with the rare LRRK2 gene mutation. During this time, I realised that—despite substantial advances in the genetics of movement disorders—almost no research had been done in patients from African decent including Black Africans and Black Caribbean – which led me to initiate my current research project. I studied medicine at the University of Khartoum, in Sudan and I completed my general medical training in several London hospitals. I have a master’s degree and a PhD in molecular genetics from University College London (UCL). And I obtained a diploma in clinical neurology from the UCL institute of neurology.