Manju Kurian

Professor Manju Kurian is a Professor of Neurogenetics in the Developmental Neurosciences Department at University College London (UCL), based at the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health. Her research focuses on neurogenetic disorders, particularly movement disorders and neurodegenerative conditions affecting children.

Her research interests span multiple areas of neurogenetics and pediatric neurology:

• Neurogenetics of movement disorders
• Neurodegenerative diseases with childhood onset
• Genetic therapies for neurological conditions
• Brain iron accumulation disorders
• Dystonia and Parkinsonism in children
• Neurotransmitter disorders

Professor Kurian's research output demonstrates a strong focus on translational neuroscience, bridging genetic discoveries with clinical applications. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms of neurological disorders to clinical management guidelines and therapeutic interventions. A significant portion of her research addresses rare genetic movement disorders, with particular attention to conditions like PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration, VPS16-related dystonia, and ADCY5-related disease. She has been instrumental in developing clinical assessment tools for pediatric movement disorders and exploring novel therapeutic approaches including deep brain stimulation and genetic therapies.

Professor Kurian has received recognition through numerous citations of her work, with several publications gaining significant attention in the scientific community. Her 2024 Lancet Neurology paper on "Climate change and disorders of the nervous system" has been particularly influential, with 42 total citations.

She actively collaborates with researchers internationally, as evidenced by her extensive co-authorship network across multiple continents. Her work involves both clinical research with patient populations and laboratory-based investigations using cellular models.