Associate Professor Miguel Rentería
Associate Professor

Miguel Rentería

Email: 

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

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Neurology and neuromuscular diseases Neurosciences

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

Search Professor Miguel Rentería’s works on UQ eSpace

164 works between 2008 and 2025
All (164) Journal Article (122) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (27) Other Outputs (13)

41 - 60 of 164 works

2023

Journal Article

Associations of polygenic risk scores for smoking heaviness and lifetime cannabis use with tobacco and cannabis co-use trajectories among African Americans

Rabinowitz, Jill A., Reboussin, Beth A., Sosnowski, David W., Kuo, Sally I-Chun, Strickland, Justin C., García-Marín, Luis M., Rentería, Miguel E., Gillespie, Nathan, Maher, Brion, Ialongo, Nicholas S., Thorpe, Roland J. and Uhl, George (2023). Associations of polygenic risk scores for smoking heaviness and lifetime cannabis use with tobacco and cannabis co-use trajectories among African Americans. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 250 110895, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110895

Associations of polygenic risk scores for smoking heaviness and lifetime cannabis use with tobacco and cannabis co-use trajectories among African Americans

2023

Journal Article

Editorial: data mining and statistical methods for knowledge discovery in diseases based on multimodal omics, volume II

Wang, Tao, Rentería, Miguel E., Tian, Zhen and Peng, Jiajie (2023). Editorial: data mining and statistical methods for knowledge discovery in diseases based on multimodal omics, volume II. Frontiers in Genetics, 14 1270862, 1-3. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1270862

Editorial: data mining and statistical methods for knowledge discovery in diseases based on multimodal omics, volume II

2023

Journal Article

Large-scale multitrait genome-wide association analyses identify hundreds of glaucoma risk loci

Han, Xikun, Gharahkhani, Puya, Hamel, Andrew R., Ong, Jue Sheng, Rentería, Miguel E., Mehta, Puja, Dong, Xianjun, Pasutto, Francesca, Hammond, Christopher, Young, Terri L., Hysi, Pirro, Lotery, Andrew J., Jorgenson, Eric, Choquet, Hélène, Hauser, Michael, Cooke Bailey, Jessica N., Nakazawa, Toru, Akiyama, Masato, Shiga, Yukihiro, Fuller, Zachary L., Wang, Xin, Hewitt, Alex W., Craig, Jamie E., Pasquale, Louis R., Mackey, David A., Wiggs, Janey L., Khawaja, Anthony P., Segrè, Ayellet V., MacGregor, Stuart ... International Glaucoma Genetics Consortium (2023). Large-scale multitrait genome-wide association analyses identify hundreds of glaucoma risk loci. Nature Genetics, 55 (7), 1116-1125. doi: 10.1038/s41588-023-01428-5

Large-scale multitrait genome-wide association analyses identify hundreds of glaucoma risk loci

2023

Journal Article

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 Rentería, Miguel E. (2023). Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk. Cerebral Cortex, 33 (12), 7428-7435. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhad049

Genetic overlap between cortical brain morphometry and frontotemporal dementia risk

2023

Journal Article

Shared molecular genetic factors influence subcortical brain morphometry and Parkinson’s disease risk

García-Marín, Luis M., Reyes-Pérez, Paula, Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Medina-Rivera, Alejandra, Martin, Nicholas G., Mitchell, Brittany L. and Rentería, Miguel E. (2023). Shared molecular genetic factors influence subcortical brain morphometry and Parkinson’s disease risk. npj Parkinson's Disease, 9 (1) 73, 73. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00515-y

Shared molecular genetic factors influence subcortical brain morphometry and Parkinson’s disease risk

2023

Journal Article

Causal associations of sleep apnea, snoring with cardiovascular diseases, and the role of body mass index: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Wang, Jiao, Campos, Adrian I., Rentería, Miguel E. and Xu, Lin (2023). Causal associations of sleep apnea, snoring with cardiovascular diseases, and the role of body mass index: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 30 (7), 552-560. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad005

Causal associations of sleep apnea, snoring with cardiovascular diseases, and the role of body mass index: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

2023

Journal Article

Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal and widespread pain

Farrell, Scott F., Sterling, Michele, Klyne, David M., Mustafa, Sanam, Campos, Adrián I., Kho, Pik-Fang, Lundberg, Mischa, Rentería, Miguel E., Ngo, Trung Thanh and Cuéllar-Partida, Gabriel (2023). Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal and widespread pain. European Spine Journal, 32 (6), 2078-2085. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07711-7

Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal and widespread pain

2023

Journal Article

Life engagement improvement following initiation of brexpiprazole treatment in patients with mdd: a naturalistic, retrospective real-world study

Wee, Soon Nan, Liman, Christian, Waters, Heidi C., Houle, Christy R., Renteria, Miguel, Mukherjee, Sankha S, Surendran, Subina, Marcovici, Joshua, Brubaker, Malaak, Rasmussen Meehan, Stine, de Jong-Laird, Anne, Rush, A John and Sarkar, Joydeep (2023). Life engagement improvement following initiation of brexpiprazole treatment in patients with mdd: a naturalistic, retrospective real-world study. ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research, 15, 195-208. doi: 10.2147/ceor.s395255

Life engagement improvement following initiation of brexpiprazole treatment in patients with mdd: a naturalistic, retrospective real-world study

2023

Journal Article

Concurrent validity and reliability of suicide risk assessment instruments: A meta-analysis of 20 instruments across 27 international cohorts

Campos, Adrian I., Van Velzen, Laura S., Veltman, Dick J., Pozzi, Elena, Ambrogi, Sonia, Ballard, Elizabeth D., Banaj, Nerisa, Başgöze, Zeynep, Bellow, Sophie, Benedetti, Francesco, Bollettini, Irene, Brosch, Katharina, Canales-Rodríguez, Erick J., Clarke-Rubright, Emily K., Colic, Lejla, Connolly, Colm G., Courtet, Philippe, Cullen, Kathryn R., Dannlowski, Udo, Dauvermann, Maria R., Davey, Christopher G., Deverdun, Jeremy, Dohm, Katharina, Erwin-Grabner, Tracy, Goya-Maldonado, Roberto, Fani, Negar, Fortea, Lydia, Fuentes-Claramonte, Paola, Gonul, Ali Saffet ... Rentería, Miguel E. (2023). Concurrent validity and reliability of suicide risk assessment instruments: A meta-analysis of 20 instruments across 27 international cohorts. Neuropsychology, 37 (3), 315-329. doi: 10.1037/neu0000850

Concurrent validity and reliability of suicide risk assessment instruments: A meta-analysis of 20 instruments across 27 international cohorts

2023

Journal Article

A shared genetic signature for common chronic pain conditions and its impact on biopsychosocial traits

Farrell, Scott F., Kho, Pik-Fang, Lundberg, Mischa, Campos, Adrián I., Rentería, Miguel E., de Zoete, Rutger M.J., Sterling, Michele, Ngo, Trung Thanh and Cuéllar-Partida, Gabriel (2023). A shared genetic signature for common chronic pain conditions and its impact on biopsychosocial traits. The Journal of Pain, 24 (3), 369-386. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.10.005

A shared genetic signature for common chronic pain conditions and its impact on biopsychosocial traits

2023

Journal Article

Causal associations of sleep apnea and snoring with type 2 diabetes and glycemic traits and the role of BMI

Wang, Jiao, Campos, Adrian I., García‐Marín, Luis M., Rentería, Miguel E. and Xu, Lin (2023). Causal associations of sleep apnea and snoring with type 2 diabetes and glycemic traits and the role of BMI. Obesity, 31 (3), 652-664. doi: 10.1002/oby.23669

Causal associations of sleep apnea and snoring with type 2 diabetes and glycemic traits and the role of BMI

2023

Journal Article

Discovery of genomic loci associated with sleep apnoea risk through multi-trait GWAS analysis with snoring

Campos, Adrian I., Ingold, Nathan, Huang, Yunru, Mitchell, Brittany L., Kho, Pik-Fang, Han, Xikun, García-Marín, Luis M., Ong, Jue-Sheng, 23andMe Research Team, Law, Matthew H., Yokoyama, Jennifer S., Martin, Nicholas G., Dong, Xianjun, Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel, MacGregor, Stuart, Aslibekyan, Stella and Rentería, Miguel E. (2023). Discovery of genomic loci associated with sleep apnoea risk through multi-trait GWAS analysis with snoring. Sleep, 46 (3) zsac308, 1-14. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsac308

Discovery of genomic loci associated with sleep apnoea risk through multi-trait GWAS analysis with snoring

2023

Journal Article

Integrative competing endogenous RNA network analyses identify novel lncRNA and genes implicated in metastatic breast cancer

Jayarathna, Dulari K., Rentería, Miguel E., Batra, Jyotsna and Gandhi, Neha S. (2023). Integrative competing endogenous RNA network analyses identify novel lncRNA and genes implicated in metastatic breast cancer. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 2423, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29585-x

Integrative competing endogenous RNA network analyses identify novel lncRNA and genes implicated in metastatic breast cancer

2023

Journal Article

Psychiatric healthcare resource utilization following initiation of aripiprazole once-monthly: a retrospective real-world study

Waters, Heidi C., Touya, Maelys, Wee, Soon Nan, Ng, Michelle, Thadani, Simran, Surendran, Subina, Rentería, Miguel, Rush, A. John, Patel, Rashmi, Sarkar, Joydeep, Fitzgerald, Heather M. and Han, Xue (2023). Psychiatric healthcare resource utilization following initiation of aripiprazole once-monthly: a retrospective real-world study. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 39 (2), 299-306. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2148461

Psychiatric healthcare resource utilization following initiation of aripiprazole once-monthly: a retrospective real-world study

2022

Conference Publication

Exploring the relationship between acne and mental health

Mitchell, B., Saklatvala, J., Martin, N.G., Smith, C., Barker, J., Renteria, M. and Simpson, M. (2022). Exploring the relationship between acne and mental health. 51st Annual ESDR Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 28 September-1 October 2022. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.09.318

Exploring the relationship between acne and mental health

2022

Journal Article

Phenotypic and genetic factors associated with donation of DNA and consent to record linkage for prescription history in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study

Gomez, Lina, Díaz-Torres, Santiago, Colodro-Conde, Lucía, Garcia-Marin, Luis M., Yap, Chloe X., Byrne, Enda M., Yengo, Loic, Lind, Penelope A., Wray, Naomi R., Medland, Sarah E., Hickie, Ian B., Lupton, Michelle K., Rentería, Miguel E., Martin, Nicholas G. and Campos, Adrian I. (2022). Phenotypic and genetic factors associated with donation of DNA and consent to record linkage for prescription history in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 273 (6), 1359-1368. doi: 10.1007/s00406-022-01527-0

Phenotypic and genetic factors associated with donation of DNA and consent to record linkage for prescription history in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study

2022

Journal Article

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and colorectal cancer risk: a mendelian randomization analysis

Jayarathna, Dulari K., Rentería, Miguel E., Kho, Pik Fang, Batra, Jyotsna and Gandhi, Neha S. (2022). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and colorectal cancer risk: a mendelian randomization analysis. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 25 (4-5) PII S1832427422000317, 180-186. doi: 10.1017/thg.2022.31

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and colorectal cancer risk: a mendelian randomization analysis

2022

Journal Article

Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity

Castruita, Patricia Alejandra, Piña-Escudero, Stefanie Danielle, Rentería, Miguel E. and Yokoyama, Jennifer S. (2022). Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity. Current Genetic Medicine Reports, 10 (3), 25-34. doi: 10.1007/s40142-022-00205-w

Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity

2022

Journal Article

Structural brain alterations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people: results from 21 international studies from the ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours consortium

van Velzen, Laura S., Dauvermann, Maria R., Colic, Lejla, Villa, Luca M., Savage, Hannah S., Toenders, Yara J., Zhu, Alyssa H., Bright, Joanna K., Campos, Adrián I., Salminen, Lauren E., Ambrogi, Sonia, Ayesa-Arriola, Rosa, Banaj, Nerisa, Başgöze, Zeynep, Bauer, Jochen, Blair, Karina, Blair, Robert James, Brosch, Katharina, Cheng, Yuqi, Colle, Romain, Connolly, Colm G., Corruble, Emmanuelle, Couvy-Duchesne, Baptiste, Crespo-Facorro, Benedicto, Cullen, Kathryn R., Dannlowski, Udo, Davey, Christopher G., Dohm, Katharina, Fullerton, Janice M. ... Schmaal, Lianne (2022). Structural brain alterations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people: results from 21 international studies from the ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours consortium. Molecular Psychiatry, 27 (11), 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01734-0

Structural brain alterations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people: results from 21 international studies from the ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours consortium

2022

Journal Article

Elucidating the relationship between migraine risk and brain structure using genetic data

Mitchell, Brittany L., Diaz-Torres, Santiago, Bivol, Svetlana, Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel, Gormley, Padhraig, Anttila, Verneri, Winsvold, Bendik S., Palta, Priit, Esko, Tonu, Pers, Tune H., Farh, Kai-How, Cuenca-Leon, Ester, Muona, Mikko, Furlotte, Nicholas A., Kurth, Tobias, Ingason, Andres, McMahon, George, Ligthart, Lannie, Terwindt, Gisela M., Kallela, Mikko, Freilinger, Tobias M., Ran, Caroline, Gordon, Scott G., Stam, Anine H., Steinberg, Stacy, Borck, Guntram, Koiranen, Markku, Quaye, Lydia, Adams, Hieab H. H. ... International Headache Genetics Consortium (2022). Elucidating the relationship between migraine risk and brain structure using genetic data. Brain, 145 (9), 3214-3224. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac105

Elucidating the relationship between migraine risk and brain structure using genetic data

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

    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

    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

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the genetic aetiology of age-related diseases in diverse populations

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Miguel Rentería directly for media enquiries about:

  • Human genetics
  • Parkinson's disease

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au