Christopher Shaw

Professor Christopher Shaw is a leading academic at King's College London, holding the position of Professor of Neurology & Neurogenetics within the Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). He directs The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and previously served as Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King's from 2017-2022. His research focuses on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with a particular emphasis on developing AAV-based gene therapies and understanding TDP-43 proteostasis in patient-derived neurons.

• Affiliations: UK DRI, AviadoBio spin-out company (co-founder), and collaborations with institutions like the University of Massachusetts and University of Edinburgh.

Research Interests: Shaw’s work spans genetic, molecular, and cellular studies of familial motor neuron disorders, including ALS, FTD, and spinal muscular atrophy. His recent studies explore oligogenic inheritance in ALS, diagnostic advancements using deep learning, and drug repurposing for C9orf72-related diseases. His team also investigates synaptic dysfunction and neurofilament gene mutations in ALS pathogenesis.

Publications highlight advancements in gene therapy, iPSC-derived models of ALS, and genetic modifiers influencing disease onset. Collaborations with global researchers underscore his leadership in neurodegenerative disease research.