Dr David P Breen
Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant Neurologist
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics
Contact details
- Email: David.Breen@ed.ac.uk
- Web: PURE academic profile
- Web: ResearchGate
- Twitter: @breenneurology
Address
- Street
-
Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
Room FU303g, Chancellor’s Building
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
47 Little France Crescent - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH16 4SB
Background
I studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. I completed neurology and PhD training in Cambridge and London, before moving to Toronto as a post-CCT Edmond J. Safra Movement Disorders Fellow under the mentorship of Tony Lang. I returned to Edinburgh in 2018 and am currently supported by a Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship.
Qualifications
2018: Movement Disorders Fellowship, University of Toronto
2016: Certificate of Completion of Training in Neurology
2015: PhD in Clinical Neurosciences, Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge
2008: Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
2005: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Edinburgh
2003: Intercalated BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh
Research summary
I am an academic neurologist in the field of movement disorders, focussing on Parkinson's disease (PD). I have diverse research interests including studying the influence of sleep and circadian disruption on brain health; studying genetic and environmental PD risk factors using large datasets; and studying neglected non-motor PD features (such as dementia and communication problems). I am driving the development of PD clinical research in Edinburgh and helping to increase clinical trials capacity. I am committed to patient participation in research.
Individual project details are outlined in my PURE academic profile (link above).
Current project grants
2019: Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship, University of Edinburgh (PI: Dr. David Breen). ‘Does sleep and circadian rhythm disruption influence brain health?’, £416,134 over 36 months.
2018: Project Grant, RS MacDonald Seedcorn Fund, University of Edinburgh (PI: Dr. David Breen). ‘Cerebrospinal α-synuclein RT-QuIC in multiple system atrophy: a clinical and neuropathological study’, £5,000 over 6 months.
-
White matter hyperintensity burden predicts cognitive but not motor decline in Parkinson's disease. Results from the ONDRI
In:
European Journal of Neurology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15692
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Neuropsychiatric Symptom Burden across Neurodegenerative Disorders and its Association with Function
In:
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (CJP), pp. 7067437221147443
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221147443
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Small and Large Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Visible Perivascular Spaces in the Basal Ganglia of Parkinson's Disease Patients
In:
Movement Disorders, vol. 37, pp. 1304-1309
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.29010
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Investigating the contribution of white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness to empathy in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases
In:
GeroScience, vol. 44, pp. 1575-1598
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00539-x
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Caregiving concerns and clinical characteristics across neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders in the Ontario neurodegenerative disease research initiative
In:
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol. 37
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5727
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The Cerebrospinal Fluid Profile of Cholesterol Metabolites in Parkinson’s Disease and Their Association With Disease State and Clinical Features
In:
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.685594
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Early constipation predicts faster dementia onset in Parkinson’s disease
In:
npj Parkinson's Disease, vol. 7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00191-w
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Which Neuropsychological Tests? Predicting Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Parkinson’s Disease in the ICICLE-PD Cohort
In:
Journal of Parkinson's disease, pp. 1-12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-212581
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Differences in the Presentation and Progression of Parkinson's Disease by Sex
In:
Movement Disorders
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28312
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Twinkle-associated familial parkinsonism with Lewy pathology: Cause or predisposition?
In:
Neurology, pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010674
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000010674
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print)