Dr Fergal Waldron

Biography

My research centres on the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and the understanding of disease heterogeneity to inform precision-prevention and precision-medicine approaches aimed at improving clinical outcomes for patients and individuals at risk of neurodegenerative conditions. My research is particularly focused on the basic and comparative aetiology and pathobiology of ALS/MND, FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

This work spans peripheral and systemic signatures of neurodegenerative disease, biomarker discovery and development (esp. aptamers), non-motor and systemic disease manifestations—including the role of the gut—co-pathologies and multiproteinopathies, the role of the immune system, and the synthesis of epidemiological and biological data to better understand disease heterogeneity.

I am also interested in the application of artificial intelligence and meta-analytical approaches to integrate complex biological, clinical, and population-level datasets, to support data-driven discovery, and translate complex research findings into clinically meaningful insights.

My research adopts an integrative, multidisciplinary approach informed by a broad range of research and training in classical and evolutionary genetics, genomics, data analytics and modelling, bioinformatics, molecular biology, experimental biology, neuroscience and immunity.

A central aim of my research is to translate discoveries into practical tools, resources and insights that can be used in clinical care and research, enabling preventive or disease-modifying therapies, improving clinical trial design, and ultimately improving outcomes for people with, or at risk of, neurodegenerative diseases.

Internal Memberships

The Genetics Society

The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Funding and Grants

Statistical frameworks for the evaluation of undiagnosed gut proteinopathies as early indicators of neurological disease (PI): £19,930 | 2025 | Grant | NHS Grampian

A Laboratory Model for Antiviral Immunity in Molluscs (co-writer); £201,732 | 2018-06 to 2021-10 | Grant | The Leverhulme Trust (London, GB)

Establishment of a Laboratory Model for Antiviral Immunity in Molluscs (co-writer); £44,364 | 2017-04 to 2017-12 | Grant | Wellcome Trust ISSF (London, GB)

Antiviral immune expression in the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis (co-writer); £1,791 | 2017-02 to 2017-06 | Grant | University of Edinburgh Moray Endowement Fund (Edinburgh, GB)

Next Generation Sequencing workshop hosted by the Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics Registration and Travel Award; €1,000 | 2011-05 to 2011-06 | AwardEuropean Science Foundation (Strasbourg, FR)

St. John’s College, Cambridge Learning and Research Fund; £1,000 | 2010-06 to 2010-07 | Award | St. John's College, University of Cambridge (Cambridge, GB)

Summer Institute in Statistics and Modelling in Infectious Diseases workshop hosted by The University of Washington Registration and Travel Award; $4,000 | 2010-06 to 2010-07 | Award | National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland, US)

Marie Curie Early Stage Research Fellowship; £24,055 | 2007-09 to 2008-08 | Salary award | Marie Curie (London, GB)

Embark Initiative Thermadapt Programme Research Fellowship; €38,012 | 2003-09 to 2005-08 | Salary award | Irish Research Council (Dublin, IE)