Overview
Background
I am a genetic epidemiologist specialising in the genetics of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and other age-related conditions. I lead a dynamic team of scientists dedicated to understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence neurodegeneration, brain health, and related health outcomes. My research is interdisciplinary, integrating advanced statistical genetics, bioinformatics, and data science to unravel disease mechanisms, improve patient stratification, and identify potential therapeutic targets.
In 2020, I founded the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), now the largest Parkinson’s cohort in Australia with over 10,000 participants. This landmark study has positioned Australia as a key contributor to global Parkinson’s genetics research. I am also actively involved in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2), where I contribute to large-scale data analysis and work within the underrepresented populations working group to enhance diversity in genetic research worldwide.
Committed to training the next generation of researchers, I have supervised over 16 students, including several PhD candidates who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Two of my recent PhD graduates received the Outstanding Thesis Award, and another received the AIPS Florey Next Generation Award.
I have published consistently in prominent journals, including Nature, Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, BRAIN, Biological Psychiatry, and SLEEP. To date, I have authored over 100 academic articles, which have been widely cited, and I have secured competitive funding from NHMRC, MRFF, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Shake It Up Australia Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Alzheimer’s Association. My work has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the 2023 Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship from the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation, the 2021 Enrico Greppi International Migraine Research Award, and the 2024 Adele Green Emerging Leader Award from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. I am also a Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, a program by the University of California San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin, which supports my commitment to promoting brain health equity worldwide.
Availability
- Associate Professor Miguel Rentería is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Genomics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
- Doctor of Philosophy of Genetics, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Policy, University of Oxford
Works
Search Professor Miguel Rentería’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
The LRRK2 p.L1795F variant causes Parkinson’s disease in the European population
Lange, Lara M., Levine, Kristin, Fox, Susan H., Marras, Connie, Ahmed, Nazish, Kuznetsov, Nicole, Vitale, Dan, Iwaki, Hirotaka, Lohmann, Katja, Marsili, Luca, Espay, Alberto J., Bauer, Peter, Beetz, Christian, Martin, Jessica, Factor, Stewart A., Higginbotham, Lenora A., Chen, Honglei, Leonard, Hampton, Nalls, Mike A., Mencacci, Niccolo E., Morris, Huw R., Singleton, Andrew B., Klein, Christine, Blauwendraat, Cornelis, Fang, Zih-Hua, Atadzhanov, Masharip, Nguyen, Toan, Nguyen, Duan, Koretsky, Mathew ... Gatto, Emilia M. (2025). The LRRK2 p.L1795F variant causes Parkinson’s disease in the European population. npj Parkinson's Disease, 11 (1) 58. doi: 10.1038/s41531-025-00896-2
2025
Journal Article
Sex differences in the diagnosis latency of Parkinson's disease in Latin America
Ramchandra, Janvi, Inca-Martinez, Miguel, Leal, Thiago Peixoto, Chaparro-Solano, Henry Mauricio, Salim, Amira, Gatto, Emilia M., Rojas, Natalia González, Da Prat, Gustavo, Micheli, Federico, Santos-Lobato, Bruno Lopes, Cardoso, Francisco E.C., Camargos, Sarah, Letro, Grace H., Braga-Neto, Pedro, Peixoto, Vitória Maria Torres, Schuh, Artur F.S., Tumas, Vitor, Brito, Manuelina M., Borges, Vanderci, Candeias da Silva, Carolina, Ferraz, Henrique B., Chana-Cuevas, Pedro, Saffie-Awad, Paula, Olguin, Patricio, Colombo, Alicia, de la Cerda, Andres, Farías, Gonzalo A., Nuñez, Juan Cristobal, Arboleda, Gonzalo ... Mata, Ignacio F. (2025). Sex differences in the diagnosis latency of Parkinson's disease in Latin America. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 134 107344, 107344. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.107344
2025
Journal Article
Recent breakthroughs in genetic and brain structural correlates of suicidal behaviours: a short review
Ceja, Zuriel, Van Velzen, Laura S., Campos, Adrian I., Jahanshad, Neda, Medland, Sarah E., Edwards, Alexis C., Schmaal, Lianne and Rentería, Miguel E. (2025). Recent breakthroughs in genetic and brain structural correlates of suicidal behaviours: a short review. Biological Psychiatry, 97 (8), 775-785. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.09.010
2025
Journal Article
Speech and language biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease prediction, early diagnosis and progression
Cao, Fangyuan, Vogel, Adam P., Gharahkhani, Puya and Renteria, Miguel E. (2025). Speech and language biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease prediction, early diagnosis and progression. npj Parkinson's Disease, 11 (1) 57. doi: 10.1038/s41531-025-00913-4
2025
Journal Article
Quality of life disparities among Mexican people with systemic lupus erythematosus
Hernández-Ledesma, Ana Laura, Martínez, Domingo, Fajardo-Brigido, Elizabeth, Román-López, Talía V., Nuñez-Reza, Karen J., Tapia-Atilano, Andrea Y., Vera del Valle, Sandra V., Domínguez-Zúñiga, Donají, Tinajero-Nieto, Lizbet, Peña-Ayala, Angélica, Torres-Valdez, Estefania, Frontana-Vázquez, Gabriel, Gutiérrez-Arcelus, María, Rosetti, Florencia, Alcauter, Sarael, Rentería, Miguel E., Ruiz-Contreras, Alejandra E., Alpízar-Rodríguez, Deshiré and Medina-Rivera, Alejandra (2025). Quality of life disparities among Mexican people with systemic lupus erythematosus. PLOS Digital Health, 4 (1) e0000706, e0000706. doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000706
2025
Journal Article
Trans-ancestry genome-wide study of depression identifies 697 associations implicating cell types and pharmacotherapies
Adams, Mark J., Streit, Fabian, Meng, Xiangrui, Awasthi, Swapnil, Adey, Brett N., Choi, Karmel W., Chundru, V. Kartik, Coleman, Jonathan R.I., Ferwerda, Bart, Foo, Jerome C., Gerring, Zachary F., Giannakopoulou, Olga, Gupta, Priya, Hall, Alisha S.M., Harder, Arvid, Howard, David M., Hübel, Christopher, Kwong, Alex S.F., Levey, Daniel F., Mitchell, Brittany L., Ni, Guiyan, Ota, Vanessa K., Pain, Oliver, Pathak, Gita A., Schulte, Eva C., Shen, Xueyi, Thorp, Jackson G., Walker, Alicia, Yao, Shuyang ... McIntosh, Andrew M. (2025). Trans-ancestry genome-wide study of depression identifies 697 associations implicating cell types and pharmacotherapies. Cell, 188 (3), 640-652.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.002
2024
Conference Publication
“Polygenic Genetic Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case‐Control Study in Peruvian Population”
Zegarra‐Valdivia, Jonathan Adrian, Arana‐Nombera, Harold Alessandro, Perez‐Fernandez, Leandro Aron, Casimiro‐Arana, Milagros del Rocio, Alamo‐Medina, Reyna Elizabeth, Gallegos‐Manayay, Viviana Nayelli, Oliva‐Piscoya, María del Rosario, Vásquez‐Zuñe, Nobuko, Abanto‐Saldaña, Eduardo Sebastián, Ordinola, Maria Celinda Cruz, Manrique, Carmen Paredes, Renteria, Miguel E., Castro‐Suarez, Sheila and Neuroscience and Mental Health Group (2024). “Polygenic Genetic Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case‐Control Study in Peruvian Population”. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference AAIC 2024, Philadelphia, PA United States, 28 July –1 August 2024. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/alz.092361
2024
Journal Article
Parkinson's disease polygenic risk score and neurological involvement in carriers of the FMR1 premutation allele: a case for genetic modifier
Loesch, Danuta Z., Chafota, Freddy, Bui, Minh Q., Storey, Elsdon, Atkinson, Anna, Martin, Nicholas G., Gordon, Scott D., Rentería, Miguel E., Hagerman, Randi J. and Tassone, Flora (2024). Parkinson's disease polygenic risk score and neurological involvement in carriers of the FMR1 premutation allele: a case for genetic modifier. Molecular Genetics and Genomic Medicine, 12 (11) e70043. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.70043
2024
Journal Article
Uncovering genetic loci and biological pathways associated with age-related cataracts through GWAS meta-analysis
Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Lee, Samantha Sze-Yee, García-Marín, Luis M., Campos, Adrian I., Lingham, Garreth, Ong, Jue-Sheng, Mackey, David A., Burdon, Kathryn P., Hunter, Michael, Dong, Xianjun, MacGregor, Stuart, Gharahkhani, Puya and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Uncovering genetic loci and biological pathways associated with age-related cataracts through GWAS meta-analysis. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 9116, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53212-6
2024
Journal Article
Genomic analysis of intracranial and subcortical brain volumes yields polygenic scores accounting for variation across ancestries
García-Marín, Luis M., Campos, Adrian I., Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Rabinowitz, Jill A., Ceja, Zuriel, Mitchell, Brittany L., Grasby, Katrina L., Thorp, Jackson G., Agartz, Ingrid, Alhusaini, Saud, Ames, David, Amouyel, Philippe, Andreassen, Ole A., Arfanakis, Konstantinos, Arias-Vasquez, Alejandro, Armstrong, Nicola J., Athanasiu, Lavinia, Bastin, Mark E., Beiser, Alexa S., Bennett, David A., Bis, Joshua C., Boks, Marco P. M., Boomsma, Dorret I., Brodaty, Henry, Brouwer, Rachel M., Buitelaar, Jan K., Burkhardt, Ralph, Cahn, Wiepke, Calhoun, Vince D. ... Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Genomic analysis of intracranial and subcortical brain volumes yields polygenic scores accounting for variation across ancestries. Nature Genetics, 56 (11), 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01951-z
2024
Conference Publication
Genetic And Psychological Predictors Of Suicidal Behavior: Insights From Polygenic Risk Scores And Mental Health Diagnoses
Ceja, Zuriel, Edwards, Alexis, Martin, Nick, Hickie, Ian, Medland, Sarah E. and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Genetic And Psychological Predictors Of Suicidal Behavior: Insights From Polygenic Risk Scores And Mental Health Diagnoses. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics WCPG 2024, Singapore, 15-19 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.08.324
2024
Journal Article
Macular structural integrity estimates are associated with Parkinson’s disease genetic risk
Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Lee, Samantha Sze-Yee, Ogonowski, Natalia S., Mackey, David A., MacGregor, Stuart, Gharahkhani, Puya and Renteria, Miguel E. (2024). Macular structural integrity estimates are associated with Parkinson’s disease genetic risk. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 12 130. doi: 10.1186/s40478-024-01841-9
2024
Conference Publication
Monogenic Parkinson’s Disease Australia (MonoPDAus) initiative: study protocol
Yeow, Dennis, Rudaks, Laura I, García-Marín, Luis M, Flores-Ocampo, Victor, Morales-Briceño, Hugo, Yau, Wai Y, Kõks, Sulev, Mellick, George D, Fung, Victor SC, Tisch, Stephen, Wu, Kathy HC, Schofield, Deborah, Willis, Amanda M, Klein, Christine, Sue, Carolyn M, Davis, Ryan L, Young, Mary-Anne, Rentería, Miguel E, Kumar, Kishore R and Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) Investigators and MonoPDAus Investigators (2024). Monogenic Parkinson’s Disease Australia (MonoPDAus) initiative: study protocol. ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10-14 September 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-anzan.60
2024
Journal Article
Building national patient registries in Mexico: insights from the MexOMICS Consortium
Reyes-Pérez, Paula, Hernández-Ledesma, Ana Laura, Román-López, Talía V., García-Vilchis, Brisa, Ramírez-González, Diego, Lázaro-Figueroa, Alejandra, Martinez, Domingo, Flores-Ocampo, Victor, Espinosa-Méndez, Ian M., Tinajero-Nieto, Lizbet, Peña-Ayala, Angélica, Morelos-Figaredo, Eugenia, Guerra-Galicia, Carlos M., Torres-Valdez, Estefania, Gordillo-Huerta, María Vanessa, Gandarilla-Martínez, Nadia A, Salinas-Barboza, Karla, Félix-Rodríguez, Guillermo, Frontana-Vázquez, Gabriel, Matuk-Pérez, Yamil, Estrada-Bellmann, Ingrid, Alpizar-Rodríguez, Deshiré, Rodríguez-Violante, Mayela, Rentería, Miguel E., Ruíz-Contreras, Alejandra E., Alcauter, Sarael and Medina-Rivera, Alejandra (2024). Building national patient registries in Mexico: insights from the MexOMICS Consortium. Frontiers in Digital Health, 6 1344103, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1344103
2024
Journal Article
Genetic variants for head size share genes and pathways with cancer
Knol, Maria J., Poot, Raymond A., Evans, Tavia E., Satizabal, Claudia L., Mishra, Aniket, Sargurupremraj, Muralidharan, van der Auwera, Sandra, Duperron, Marie-Gabrielle, Jian, Xueqiu, Hostettler, Isabel C., van Dam-Nolen, Dianne H.K., Lamballais, Sander, Pawlak, Mikolaj A., Lewis, Cora E., Carrion-Castillo, Amaia, van Erp, Theo G.M., Reinbold, Céline S., Shin, Jean, Scholz, Markus, Håberg, Asta K., Kämpe, Anders, Li, Gloria H.Y., Avinun, Reut, Atkins, Joshua R., Hsu, Fang-Chi, Amod, Alyssa R., Lam, Max, Tsuchida, Ami, Teunissen, Mariël W.A. ... The Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium (2024). Genetic variants for head size share genes and pathways with cancer. Cell Reports Medicine, 5 (5) 101529. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101529
2024
Journal Article
TwinsMX: exploring the genetic and environmental influences on health traits in the Mexican population
García-Vilchis, Brisa, Román-López, Talia V., Ramírez-González, Diego, López-Camaño, Xanat J., Murillo-Lechuga, Vanessa, Díaz-Téllez, Xóchitl, Sánchez-Moncada, C. Itzamná, Espinosa-Méndez, Ian M., Zenteno-Morales, Diego, Espinosa-Valdes, Zaida X., Pradel-Jiménez, Sofia, Tapia-Atilano, Andrea, Zanabria-Pérez, Ana V., Livas-Gangas, Federica, Aldana-Assad, Oscar, Caballero-Sánchez, Ulises, Dominguez-Frausto, César A., Rentería, Miguel E., Medina-Rivera, Alejandra, Alcauter, Sarael and Ruiz-Contreras, Alejandra E. (2024). TwinsMX: exploring the genetic and environmental influences on health traits in the Mexican population. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 27 (2), 85-96. doi: 10.1017/thg.2024.18
2024
Journal Article
Fighting plastic pollution with a circular economy roadmap and strategy: Addressed to the United Nations Environment Programme
García-Marín, Luis M. and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Fighting plastic pollution with a circular economy roadmap and strategy: Addressed to the United Nations Environment Programme. Journal of Science Policy & Governance, 24 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.38126/jspg240107
2024
Journal Article
Impact of genetic predisposition to late-onset neurodegenerative diseases on early life outcomes and brain structure
Ogonowski, Natalia S., García-Marín, Luis M., Fernando, Amali S., Flores-Ocampo, Victor and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Impact of genetic predisposition to late-onset neurodegenerative diseases on early life outcomes and brain structure. Translational Psychiatry, 14 (1) 185, 185. doi: 10.1038/s41398-024-02898-9
2024
Journal Article
Investigating the shared genetic etiology between Parkinson’s disease and depression
Reyes-Pérez, Paula, García-Marín, Luis M., Aman, Asma M., Antar, Tarek, Flores-Ocampo, Victor, Mitchell, Brittany L., Medina-Rivera, Alejandra and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Investigating the shared genetic etiology between Parkinson’s disease and depression. Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 14 (3), 483-493. doi: 10.3233/jpd-230176
2024
Journal Article
Associations of externalizing polygenic scores with externalizing disorders among Mexican youth
Martinez-Levy, Gabriela A., Maya-Martínez, Mateo, García-Marín, Luis M., Díaz-Torres, Santiago, Gómez, Lina M., Benjet, Corina, Rentería, Miguel E., Cruz-Fuentes, Carlos S. and Rabinowitz, Jill A. (2024). Associations of externalizing polygenic scores with externalizing disorders among Mexican youth. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 171, 346-353. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.030
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Miguel Rentería is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic Aetiology of Cognitive and Speech-Related Features in Parkinson's Disease
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Monogenic Parkinson's disease among individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in Australia and Mexico
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the genetic aetiology of age-related diseases in diverse populations
Associate Advisor
-
Master Philosophy
Application of machine learning techniques on longitudinal fitness tracker data to augment disease risk prediction.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging gaps on the genetics of age-related disorder among under-represented populations
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic architecture of differences in symptomatology and treatment response in major depressive disorder
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin, Honorary Professor Sarah Medland
-
Doctor Philosophy
From Genes to Brain Networks: AI Approaches to Understanding the Genetic Foundations of Brain Functionality in Health and Disease
Associate Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding psychiatric disease: From aetiology to outcomes and treatment response
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Miguel Rentería directly for media enquiries about:
- Human genetics
- Parkinson's disease
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