Dr Danielle Leighton

Danielle Leighton’s research examines the clinical characteristics and underlying genetic makeup of people with MND in Scotland.  During her PhD she carried out face-to-face research with people with MND throughout Scotland to populate the CARE-MND database, collect DNA samples and investigate how genetic factors relate to clinical characteristics in MND.  She gained expertise in genetic variant interpretation through a collaboration with Columbia University in New York and aims to translate that into future research and clinical practice.  She is extremely grateful to all the people with MND who have contributed to her research and the wider research efforts over the years. 

Danielle studied Medicine at the University of Glasgow, also completing a BSc degree in Psychological Medicine.  She completed her PhD in MND through the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, and then gained a SCREDS Clinical Lectureship to continue her research alongside clinical neurology training at the Institute of Neurological Sciences Glasgow/University of Glasgow.