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

155 works between 2008 and 2025
All (155) Journal Article (123) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (29) Other Outputs (1)

141 - 155 of 155 works

2016

Journal Article

The association of genetic predisposition to depressive symptoms with non-suicidal and suicidal self-injuries

Maciejewski, Dominique F., Renteria, Miguel E., Abdellaoui, Abdel, Medland, Sarah E., Few, Lauren R., Gordon, Scott D., Madden, Pamela A. F., Montgomery, Grant, Trull, Timothy J., Heath, Andrew C., Statham, Dixie J., Martin, Nicholas G., Zietsch, Brendan P. and Verweij, Karin J. H. (2016). The association of genetic predisposition to depressive symptoms with non-suicidal and suicidal self-injuries. Behavior Genetics, 47 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s10519-016-9809-z

The association of genetic predisposition to depressive symptoms with non-suicidal and suicidal self-injuries

2016

Journal Article

Early developmental gene enhancers affect subcortical volumes in the adult human brain

Becker, Martin, Guadalupe, Tulio, Franke, Barbara, Hibar, Derrek P., Renteria, Miguel E., Stein, Jason L., Thompson, Paul M., Francks, Clyde, Vernes, Sonja C. and Fisher, Simon E. (2016). Early developmental gene enhancers affect subcortical volumes in the adult human brain. Human Brain Mapping, 37 (5), 1788-1800. doi: 10.1002/hbm.23136

Early developmental gene enhancers affect subcortical volumes in the adult human brain

2016

Journal Article

Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide in the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group

Schmaal, L., Hibar, D. P., Samann, P. G., Hall, G. B., Baune, B. T., Jahanshad, N., Cheung, J. W., van Erp, T. G. M., Bos, D., Ikram, M. A., Vernooij, M. W., Niessen, W. J., Tiemeier, H., Hofman, A., Wittfeld, K., Grabe, H. J., Janowitz, D., Bulow, R., Selonke, M., Volzke, H., Grotegerd, D., Dannlowski, U., Arolt, V., Opel, N., Heindel, W., Kugel, H., Hoehn, D., Czisch, M., Couvy-Duchesne, B. ... Veltman, D. J. (2016). Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide in the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group. Molecular Psychiatry, 22 (6), 900-909. doi: 10.1038/mp.2016.60

Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide in the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group

2016

Journal Article

Subcortical brain alterations in major depressive disorder: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder working group

Schmaal, L., Veltman, D. J., van Erp, T. G. M., Sämann, P. G., Frodl, T., Jahanshad, N., Loehrer, E., Tiemeier, H., Hofman, A., Niessen, W. J., Vernooij, M. W., Ikram, M. A., Wittfeld, K., Grabe, H. J., Block, A., Hegenscheid, K., Völzke, H., Hoehn, D., Czisch, M., Lagopoulos, J., Hatton, S. N., Hickie, I. B., Goya-Maldonado, R., Krämer, B., Gruber, O., Couvy-Duchesne, B., Rentería, M. E., Strike, L. T., Mills, N. T. ... Hibar, D. P. (2016). Subcortical brain alterations in major depressive disorder: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder working group. Molecular Psychiatry, 21 (6), 806-812. doi: 10.1038/mp.2015.69

Subcortical brain alterations in major depressive disorder: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder working group

2015

Journal Article

Common genetic variants influence human subcortical brain structures

Hibar, Derrek P, Stein, Jason L, Renteria, Miguel E, Arias-Vasquez, Alejandro, Desrivieres, Sylvane, Jahanshad, Neda, Toro, Roberto, Wittfeld, Katharina, Abramovic, Lucija, Andersson, Micael, Aribisala, Benjamin S, Armstrong, Nicola J, Bernard, Manon, Bohlken, Marc M, Boks, Marco P, Bralten, Janita, Brown, Andrew A, Mallar Chakravarty M., Chen, Qiang, Ching, Christopher R.K., Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel, Den Braber, Anouk, Giddaluru, Sudheer, Goldman, Aaron L, Grimm, Oliver, Guadalupe, Tulio, Hass, Johanna, Woldehawariat, Girma, Holmes, Avram J ... Medland, Sarah E (2015). Common genetic variants influence human subcortical brain structures. Nature, 520 (7546), 224-229. doi: 10.1038/nature14101

Common genetic variants influence human subcortical brain structures

2015

Journal Article

LocusTrack: integrated visualization of GWAS results and genomic annotation

Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel, Renteria, Miguel E. and MacGregor, Stuart (2015). LocusTrack: integrated visualization of GWAS results and genomic annotation. Source Code for Biology and Medicine, 10 (1) 1, 1.1-1.4. doi: 10.1186/s13029-015-0032-8

LocusTrack: integrated visualization of GWAS results and genomic annotation

2015

Conference Publication

Structural brain alterations in major depression: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group

Schmaal, L., Veltman, D. J., Van Erp, T. G., Saemann, P. G., Frodl, T., Jahanshad, N., Loehrer, E., Tiemeier, H., Hofman, A., Niessen, W. J., Vernooij, M. W., Ikram, M. A., Wittfeld, K., Grabe, H. J., Block, A., Hegenscheid, K., Voelzke, H., Hoehn, D., Czisch, M., Lagopoulos, J., Hatton, S. N., Hickie, I. B., Goya-Maldonado, R., Kraemer, B., Gruber, O., Couvy-Duchesne, B., Renteria, M. E., Strike, L. T., Mills, N. T. ... Hibar, D. P. (2015). Structural brain alterations in major depression: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group. 28th Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), Amsterdam Netherlands, Aug 29-Sep 01, 2015. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/S0924-977X(15)30517-4

Structural brain alterations in major depression: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group

2014

Journal Article

Genetic architecture of subcortical brain regions: common and region-specific genetic contributions

Rentería, M. E., Hansell, N. K., Strike, L. T., McMahon, K. L., de Zubicaray, G. I., Hickie, Ian B., Thompson, Paul M., Martin, N. G., Medland, S. E. and Wright, M. J. (2014). Genetic architecture of subcortical brain regions: common and region-specific genetic contributions. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 13 (8), 821-830. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12177

Genetic architecture of subcortical brain regions: common and region-specific genetic contributions

2014

Journal Article

The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data

Thompson, Paul M., Stein, Jason L., Medland, Sarah E., Hibar, Derrek P., Arias Vasquez, Alejandro, Renteria, Miguel E., Toro, Roberto, Jahanshad, Neda, Schumann, Gunter, Franke, Barbara, Wright, Margaret J., Martin, Nicholas G., Agartz, Ingrid, Alda, Martin, Alhusaini, Saud, Almasy, Laura, Almeida, Jorge, Alpert, Kathryn, Andreasen, Nancy C., Andreassen, Ole A., Apostolova, Liana G., Appel, Katja, Armstrong, Nicola J., Aribisala, Benjamin, Bastin, Mark E., Bauer, Michael, Bearden, Carrie E., Bergmann, Ørjan, Binder, Elisabeth B. ... Saguenay Youth Study (SYS) Group (2014). The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 8 (2), 153-182. doi: 10.1007/s11682-013-9269-5

The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data

2013

Journal Article

GWAS of DNA methylation variation within imprinting control regions suggests parent-of-origin association

Rentería, Miguel E., Coolen, Marcel W., Statham, Aaron L., Choi, R. Seong Min, Qu, Wenjia, Campbell, Megan J., Smith, Sara, Henders, Anjali K., Montgomery, Grant W., Clark, Susan J., Martin, Nicholas G. and Medland, Sarah E. (2013). GWAS of DNA methylation variation within imprinting control regions suggests parent-of-origin association. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16 (4), 767-781. doi: 10.1017/thg.2013.30

GWAS of DNA methylation variation within imprinting control regions suggests parent-of-origin association

2013

Book Chapter

Using PLINK for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and data analysis

Renteria, Miguel E., Cortes, Adrian and Medland, Sarah E. (2013). Using PLINK for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and data analysis. Genome-Wide Association Studies and Genomic Prediction. (pp. 193-213) edited by Cedric Gondro, Julius van der Werf and Ben Hayes. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-447-0_8

Using PLINK for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and data analysis

2013

Other Outputs

Mapping the genetic architecture of subcortical brain anatomy

Rentería Rodríguez, Miguel Enrique (2013). Mapping the genetic architecture of subcortical brain anatomy. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.

Mapping the genetic architecture of subcortical brain anatomy

2012

Journal Article

Cerebral assymmetry: a quantitative, multifactorial, and plastic brain phenotype

Renteria, Miguel E. (2012). Cerebral assymmetry: a quantitative, multifactorial, and plastic brain phenotype. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 15 (3), 401-413. doi: 10.1017/thg.2012.13

Cerebral assymmetry: a quantitative, multifactorial, and plastic brain phenotype

2012

Journal Article

Identification of common variants associated with human hippocampal and intracranial volumes

Stein, Jason L., Medland, Sarah E., Vasquez, Alejandro Arias, Hibar, Derrek P., Senstad, Rudy E., Winkler, Anderson M., Toro, Roberto, Appel, Katja, Bartecek, Richard, Bergmann, Ørjan, Bernard, Manon, Brown, Andrew A., Cannon, Dara M., Chakravarty, M. Mallar, Christoforou, Andrea, Domin, Martin, Grimm, Oliver, Hollinshead, Marisa, Holmes, Avram J., Homuth, Georg, Hottenga, Jouke-Jan, Langan, Camilla, Lopez, Lorna M., Hansell, Narelle K., Hwang, Kristy S., Kim, Sungeun, Laje, Gonzalo, Lee, Phil H., Liu, Xinmin ... Brown, Matthew A. (2012). Identification of common variants associated with human hippocampal and intracranial volumes. Nature Genetics, 44 (5), 552-561. doi: 10.1038/ng.2250

Identification of common variants associated with human hippocampal and intracranial volumes

2008

Journal Article

A comparative structural bioinformatics analysis of the insulin receptor family ectodomain based on phylogenetic information

Renteria, Miguel E., Gandhi, Neha S., Vinuesa, Pablo, Helmerhorst, Erik and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2008). A comparative structural bioinformatics analysis of the insulin receptor family ectodomain based on phylogenetic information. PLoS One, 3 (11) e3667, e3667. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003667

A comparative structural bioinformatics analysis of the insulin receptor family ectodomain based on phylogenetic information

Availability

Associate Professor Miguel Rentería is:
Available for supervision

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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

    Understanding the genetic aetiology of age-related diseases in diverse 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

    Bridging gaps on the genetics of age-related disorder among under-represented populations

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    From Genes to Brain Networks: AI Approaches to Understanding the Genetic Foundations of Brain Functionality in Health and Disease

    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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Miguel Rentería directly for media enquiries about:

  • Human genetics
  • Parkinson's disease

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