Meet the team

Professor Alastair Noyce Principal Investigator at QMUL

Professor Alastair Noyce Principal Investigator at QMUL

I am a Professor in Neurology and Neuroepidemiology and a Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. My main research interests are the early identification, and environmental and genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. I am co-principal investigator at QMUL on the PREDICT-PD study. Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family, as well as running and skiing.

Professor Anette Schrag Principal Investigator at UCL

Professor Anette Schrag Principal Investigator at UCL

I am a Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Consultant Neurologist at University College London (UCL). My research has focussed on Parkinson’s disease, including diagnosis and clinical outcomes, and clinical trials for better treatments of PD. I also have a long-standing interest in the prodromal phase of Parkinson’s, to help us find ways to treat Parkinson’s earlier. I am co-principal investigator at UCL on the PREDICT-PD study.

Ruby Lathey

Ruby Lathey

I am a Project Manager at QMUL and am responsible for finance/contract management as well as the day-to-day coordination of PREDICT-PD. I have an MSc. in Translational Neuroscience, in addition to experience in clinical research and drug development. In my spare time, I enjoy long walks and spending time with friends, family and their cats. 

 

Jon Bestwick

Jon Bestwick

I am a Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, where I have been since 2003. I have been involved in research on antenatal screening, adult screening for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and screening children and through them, their parents for familial hypercholesterolemia. Over more than the last decade I have been participating in research on Parkinson’s disease which includes the PREDICT-PD project. I also teach Medical Statistics and Public Health to medical students. 

Dr Laura Perez-Carbonell

Dr Laura Perez-Carbonell

I am a Consultant Neurologist and Sleep Specialist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. I joined the PREDICT-PD team to support the identification and follow-up of participants with REM sleep behaviour disorder. My research has focused on the relationship between sleep disorders and neurological conditions. Besides work, I enjoy spending time with my family, skiing, and practising yoga.

Dr Cristina Simonet

Dr Cristina Simonet

I finished my Neurology training in Spain in 2016. I have had a special interest in Parkinson’s disease since the beginning of my training.  I joined the PREDICT-PD team in September 2018, which was a new challenge for me. I am based at Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and my research is based on studying the early motor features of Parkinson’s. In my free time I love cooking for friends and wandering through the streets of London.

Brook Huxford

Brook Huxford

I completed an MSc in Neurotechnology in 2016 and subsequently worked at a diagnostic biomarker start-up company. I joined the PREDICT-PD team in July 2020 as a PhD student and my research focuses on remote biomarkers for the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease. I am now embarking on a post-doc further developing the early Parkinson’s biomarker efforts within the PREDICT-PD study. In my spare time I love walking, running, yoga, and generally anything outdoors (with my dog)!

Anaya Navangul

Anaya Navangul

I joined the Cure Parkinson's and PREDICT-PD team as a Recruitment and Retention Officer. I have a B.A. in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University and a MRes in Translational Neuroscience from UCL. I have industry experience in drug development and R&D. In my spare time, I like to spend time with friends, exercise and cook.

Harneek Chohan

Harneek Chohan

I completed my MSc in Neuroscience and Translational Medicine and joined the PREDICT-PD team in 2021 as a research assistant and I am now doing my PHD. The PhD project will look at the progression of biological and clinical markers in groups at risk of developing Parkinson's Disease as well as in patients with Parkinson's Disease. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, going for walks and shopping.

Rita Benabderrazik

Rita Benabderrazik

I completed an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL and subsequently I have been working in clinical research in neurodegenerative diseases. I have joined the team as Predict-PD coordinator, where I support and manage the day to day functioning of the study. In my spare time I enjoy yoga and bouldering, as well as spending time with friends!

Eduardo De Pablo Fernandez

Eduardo De Pablo Fernandez

Eduardo is a Senior Research Clinical Fellow and Consultant Neurologist. He completed his PhD at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology on the pathophysiology of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. He joined the PREDICT-PD team to support the clinical and biomarker characterisation of participants, particularly those presenting with autonomic failure. His research explores the pathogenic mechanisms underlying clinical heterogeneity and disease progression in people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative parkinsonisms, with a special focus on non-motor symptoms

Sophie Meyer

Sophie Meyer

I am joining the PREDICT-PD team as a Research Assistant, where I will be assisting with general research activities and the management of biological samples. I have a BSc in Biology from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences from KCL. I have been working in clinical research with autistic young people, individuals with Down syndrome and in mental health service provision. In my spare time I love cooking, swimming and spending lots of time outside!