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
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
2024
Journal Article
Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression aids locus discovery, fine mapping, gene prioritization and causal inference
Meng, Xiangrui, Navoly, Georgina, Giannakopoulou, Olga, Levey, Daniel F., Koller, Dora, Pathak, Gita A., Koen, Nastassja, Lin, Kuang, Adams, Mark J., Rentería, Miguel E., Feng, Yanzhe, Gaziano, J. Michael, Stein, Dan J., Zar, Heather J., Campbell, Megan L., van Heel, David A., Trivedi, Bhavi, Finer, Sarah, McQuillin, Andrew, Bass, Nick, Chundru, V. Kartik, Martin, Hilary C., Huang, Qin Qin, Valkovskaya, Maria, Chu, Chia-Yi, Kanjira, Susan, Kuo, Po-Hsiu, Chen, Hsi-Chung, Tsai, Shih-Jen ... BioBank Japan Project (2024). Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression aids locus discovery, fine mapping, gene prioritization and causal inference. Nature Genetics, 56 (2), 222-233. doi: 10.1038/s41588-023-01596-4
2024
Journal Article
Investigating the genetic relationship of intracranial and subcortical brain volumes with depression and other psychiatric disorders
García-Marín, Luis M., Ogonowski, Natalia S., Han, Laura K.M., Maya-Martínez, Mateo, Mitchell, Brittany L., Schmaal, Lianne, Martin, Nicholas G. and Rentería, Miguel E. (2024). Investigating the genetic relationship of intracranial and subcortical brain volumes with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Imaging Neuroscience, 2, 1-16. doi: 10.1162/imag_a_00291
2024
Journal Article
Fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a greater risk of hyperandrogenism in women: UK Biobank cohort study
Chen, Huadong, Buziau, Amée M., Rentería, Miguel E., Simons, Pomme I. H. G. and Brouwers, Martijn C. G. J. (2024). Fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a greater risk of hyperandrogenism in women: UK Biobank cohort study. European Journal of Endocrinology, 190 (1), 104-112. doi: 10.1093/ejendo/lvae006
2024
Book Chapter
Cerebral Lateralization and Hemispheric Specialization
García-Marín, Luis M., Ceja, Zuriel, Rentería, Miguel E. and Galaburda, Albert M. (2024). Cerebral Lateralization and Hemispheric Specialization. The Sage Handbook of Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience. (pp. 259-276) London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781529616613.n17
2024
Journal Article
Is SH3GL2 p.G276V the Causal Functional Variant Underlying Parkinson's Disease Risk at this Locus?
Lázaro-Figueroa, Alejandra, Hernández-Medrano, Ana Jimena, Ramírez-Pineda, Diana Berenice, Navarro Cadavid, Andrés, Makarious, Mary, Foo, Jia Nee, Alvarado, Chelsea X., Bandres-Ciga, Sara, Periñan, Maria Teresa, Gatto, Emilia M., Kauffman, Marcelo, Khachatryan, Samson, Tavadyan, Zaruhi, Shepherd, Claire E., Hunter, Julie, Kumar, Kishore, Ellis, Melina, Rentería, Miguel E., Koks, Sulev, Zimprich, Alexander, Schumacher-Schuh, Artur F., Rieder, Carlos, Awad, Paula Saffie, Tumas, Vitor, Camargos, Sarah, Fon, Edward A., Monchi, Oury, Fon, Ted, Galleguillos, Benjamin Pizarro ... Atadzhanov, Masharip (2024). Is SH3GL2 p.G276V the Causal Functional Variant Underlying Parkinson's Disease Risk at this Locus?. Movement Disorders, 39 (11), 2117-2119. doi: 10.1002/mds.29719
2024
Journal Article
Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of dizygotic twinning illuminates genetic regulation of female fecundity
Mbarek, Hamdi, Gordon, Scott D., Duffy, David L., Hubers, Nikki, Mortlock, Sally, Beck, Jeffrey J., Hottenga, Jouke-Jan, Pool, René, Dolan, Conor V., Actkins, Ky’Era V., Gerring, Zachary F., Van Dongen, Jenny, Ehli, Erik A., Iacono, William G., Mcgue, Matt, Chasman, Daniel I., Gallagher, C. Scott, Schilit, Samantha L. P., Morton, Cynthia C., Paré, Guillaume, Willemsen, Gonneke, Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., Derom, Catherine, Vlietinck, Robert, Gudbjartsson, Daniel, Cannon-Albright, Lisa, Krapohl, Eva, Plomin, Robert ... Martin, Nicholas G. (2024). Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of dizygotic twinning illuminates genetic regulation of female fecundity. Human Reproduction, 39 (1), 240-257. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dead247
2024
Journal Article
Psychometric evaluation and linking of the PHQ-9, QIDS-C, and VQIDS-C in a real-world population with major depressive disorder
Palmer, Emily OC, Ker, Sheryl, Rentería, Miguel E., Carmody, Thomas and Rush, A. John (2024). Psychometric evaluation and linking of the PHQ-9, QIDS-C, and VQIDS-C in a real-world population with major depressive disorder. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 20, 671-687. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S444223
2023
Journal Article
Multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of Parkinson’s disease
Kim, Jonggeol Jeffrey, Vitale, Dan, Otani, Diego Véliz, Lian, Michelle Mulan, Heilbron, Karl, Aslibekyan, Stella, Auton, Adam, Babalola, Elizabeth, Bell, Robert K., Bielenberg, Jessica, Bryc, Katarzyna, Bullis, Emily, Cannon, Paul, Coker, Daniella, Partida, Gabriel Cuellar, Dhamija, Devika, Das, Sayantan, Elson, Sarah L., Eriksson, Nicholas, Filshtein, Teresa, Fitch, Alison, Fletez-Brant, Kipper, Fontanillas, Pierre, Freyman, Will, Granka, Julie M., Hernandez, Alejandro, Hicks, Barry, Hinds, David A., Jewett, Ethan M. ... Mata, Ignacio (2023). Multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of Parkinson’s disease. Nature Genetics, 56 (1), 27-36. doi: 10.1038/s41588-023-01584-8
2023
Journal Article
Author Correction: Elucidating causative gene variants in hereditary Parkinson’s disease in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) (npj Parkinson's Disease, (2023), 9, 1, (100), 10.1038/s41531-023-00526-9)
Lange, Lara M., Avenali, Micol, Ellis, Melina, Illarionova, Anastasia, Keller Sarmiento, Ignacio J., Tan, Ai-Huey, Madoev, Harutyun, Galandra, Caterina, Junker, Johanna, Roopnarain, Karisha, Solle, Justin, Wegel, Claire, Fang, Zih-Hua, Heutink, Peter, Kumar, Kishore R., Lim, Shen-Yang, Valente, Enza Maria, Nalls, Mike, Blauwendraat, Cornelis, Singleton, Andrew, Mencacci, Niccolo, Lohmann, Katja, Klein, Christine, Gatto, Emilia M., Kauffman, Marcelo, Khachatryan, Samson, Tavadyan, Zaruhi, Shepherd, Claire E., Hunter, Julie ... Atadzhanov, Masharip (2023). Author Correction: Elucidating causative gene variants in hereditary Parkinson’s disease in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) (npj Parkinson's Disease, (2023), 9, 1, (100), 10.1038/s41531-023-00526-9). npj Parkinson's Disease, 9 (1) 133. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00560-7
2023
Conference Publication
Online abridged behavioral neurology training for specialists in Latin America: EduBrainLat
Escudero, Stefanie Danielle Pina, Franco, Teresita Ramos, Archila, Oscar Robles, Renteria, Miguel E., Ibanez, Agustin, Slachevsky, Andrea and Yokoyama, Jennifer S. (2023). Online abridged behavioral neurology training for specialists in Latin America: EduBrainLat. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference AAIC 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16-20 July 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/alz.080679
2023
Journal Article
Defining the causes of sporadic Parkinson’s disease in the global Parkinson’s genetics program (GP2)
Towns, Clodagh, Richer, Madeleine, Jasaityte, Simona, Stafford, Eleanor J., Joubert, Julie, Antar, Tarek, Martinez-Carrasco, Alejandro, Makarious, Mary B., Casey, Bradford, Vitale, Dan, Levine, Kristin, Leonard, Hampton, Pantazis, Caroline B., Screven, Laurel A., Hernandez, Dena G., Wegel, Claire E., Solle, Justin, Nalls, Mike A., Blauwendraat, Cornelis, Singleton, Andrew B., Tan, Manuela M. X., Iwaki, Hirotaka, Morris, Huw R., Gatto, Emilia M., Kauffman, Marcelo, Khachatryan, Samson, Tavadyan, Zaruhi, Shepherd, Claire E., Hunter, Julie ... Atadzhanov, Masharip (2023). Defining the causes of sporadic Parkinson’s disease in the global Parkinson’s genetics program (GP2). npj Parkinson's Disease, 9 (1) 131. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00533-w
2023
Conference Publication
Poorer online cognitive performance is associated with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and brain phenotypes in healthy mid‐life and older adults
Lupton, Michelle K., Gomez, Lina, Mitchell, Brittany L., Adsett, Jessica, García‐Marín, Luis M., Renteria, Miguel E., McAloney, Kerrie, Ceslis, Amelia, Thienel, Renate, Robinson, Gail, Breakspear, Michael and Martin, Nicholas G (2023). Poorer online cognitive performance is associated with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and brain phenotypes in healthy mid‐life and older adults. AAIC 2023 Abstracts, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16-20 July 2023. Hoboken, NJ USA: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/alz.078078
2023
Conference Publication
Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk
Diaz‐Torres, Santiago, Ogonowski, Natalia, García‐Marín, Luis M., Bonham, Luke W., Duran‐Aniotz, Claudia, Yokoyama, Jennifer S. and Renteria, Miguel E. (2023). Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference AAIC 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16-20 July 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/alz.080759
2023
Journal Article
Discontinuation of antidepressant treatment: a retrospective cohort study on more than 20,000 participants
Garcia-Marin, Luis M., Mulcahy, Aoibhe, Byrne, Enda M., Medland, Sarah E., Wray, Naomi R., Chafota, Freddy, Lind, Penelope A., Martin, Nicholas G., Hickie, Ian B., Rentería, Miguel E. and Campos, Adrian I. (2023). Discontinuation of antidepressant treatment: a retrospective cohort study on more than 20,000 participants. Annals of General Psychiatry, 22 (1) 49, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12991-023-00480-z
2023
Journal Article
Identification of genetic risk loci and causal insights associated with Parkinson's disease in African and African admixed populations: a genome-wide association study
Rizig, Mie, Bandres-Ciga, Sara, Makarious, Mary B, Ojo, Oluwadamilola Omolara, Crea, Peter Wild, Abiodun, Oladunni Victoria, Levine, Kristin S, Abubakar, Sani Atta, Achoru, Charles Obiora, Vitale, Dan, Adeniji, Olaleye Akinmola, Agabi, Osigwe Paul, Koretsky, Mathew J, Agulanna, Uchechi, Hall, Deborah A, Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola, Xie, Tao, Ali, Mohammed Wulgo, Shamim, Ejaz A, Ani-Osheku, Ifeyinwa, Padmanaban, Mahesh, Arigbodi, Ohwotemu Michael, Standaert, David G, Bello, Abiodun Hamzat, Dean, Marissa N, Erameh, Cyril Oshomah, Elsayed, Inas, Farombi, Temitope Hannah, Okunoye, Olaitan ... Tavadyan, Zaruhi (2023). Identification of genetic risk loci and causal insights associated with Parkinson's disease in African and African admixed populations: a genome-wide association study. The Lancet Neurology, 22 (11), 1015-1025. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00283-1
2023
Journal Article
Estimating the genetic contribution to astigmatism and myopia in the Mexican population
Román-López, Talía V., García-Vilchis, Brisa, Murillo-Lechuga, Vanessa, Chiu-Han, Enrique, López-Camaño, Xanat, Aldana-Assad, Oscar, Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Caballero-Sánchez, Ulises, Ortega-Mora, Ivett, Ramírez-González, Diego, Zenteno, Diego, Espinosa-Valdés, Zaida, Tapia-Atilano, Andrea, Pradel-Jiménez, Sofía, Rentería, Miguel E., Medina-Rivera, Alejandra, Ruiz-Contreras, Alejandra E. and Alcauter, Sarael (2023). Estimating the genetic contribution to astigmatism and myopia in the Mexican population. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 26 (4-5), 1-9. doi: 10.1017/thg.2023.41
2023
Journal Article
GWAS meta-analysis of suicide attempt: identification of 12 genome-wide significant loci and implication of genetic risks for specific health factors
Docherty, Anna R., Mullins, Niamh, Ashley-Koch, Allison E., Qin, Xuejun, Coleman, Jonathan R.I., Shabalin, Andrey, Kang, JooEun, Murnyak, Balasz, Wendt, Frank, Adams, Mark, Campos, Adrian I., DiBlasi, Emily, Fullerton, Janice M., Kranzler, Henry R., Bakian, Amanda V., Monson, Eric T., Rentería, Miguel E., Walss-Bass, Consuelo, Andreassen, Ole A., Behera, Chittaranjan, Bulik, Cynthia M., Edenberg, Howard J., Kessler, Ronald C., Mann, J. John, Nurnberger, John I., Pistis, Giorgio, Streit, Fabian, Ursano, Robert J., Polimanti, Renato ... German Borderline Genomics Consortium (2023). GWAS meta-analysis of suicide attempt: identification of 12 genome-wide significant loci and implication of genetic risks for specific health factors. American Journal of Psychiatry, 180 (10), 723-738. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21121266
2023
Journal Article
Associations of comorbid substance use disorders with clinical outcomes in schizophrenia using electronic health record data
Patel, Rashmi, Chan, Kelly M.Y., Palmer, Emily O.C., Valko, Matthew, Guruswamy, Guruprabha, Ker, Sheryl, Batra, Gunjan, Rentería, Miguel E. and Kollins, Scott H. (2023). Associations of comorbid substance use disorders with clinical outcomes in schizophrenia using electronic health record data. Schizophrenia Research, 260, 191-197. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.08.023
2023
Conference Publication
European Externalizing Polygenic Risk Scores Predicts Adhd Among Mexican Youth
Martinez-Levy, Gabriela, Maya-Martínez, Mateo, Garcia-Marin, Luis, Gómez, Lina, Benjet, Corina, Rentería, Miguel E., Cruz-Fuentes, Carlos S. and Rabinowits, Jill A. (2023). European Externalizing Polygenic Risk Scores Predicts Adhd Among Mexican Youth. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics WCPG 2023, Montreal, QC Canada, 10-14 October 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.236
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
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Doctor Philosophy
Monogenic Parkinson's disease among individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in Australia and Mexico
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
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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
Genetic Aetiology of Cognitive and Speech-Related Features in Parkinson's Disease
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
From Genes to Brain Networks: AI Approaches to Understanding the Genetic Foundations of Brain Functionality in Health and Disease
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the genetic aetiology of age-related diseases in diverse populations
Associate Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Application of machine learning techniques on longitudinal fitness tracker data to augment disease risk prediction.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen
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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
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and other complex human traits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
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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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