Frank Hirth

Frank Hirth

Dr

  • Phone80786
  • SE5 8AF

    United Kingdom

  • 4158
    Citations

Personal profile

Research interests

Dr Frank Hirth is Reader of Evolutionary Neuroscience and Principal Investigator at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London. He directs the Neural Circuits and Behaviour Laboratory at the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute where his current research follows two strands investigating the evolution and dissolution of the brain.

A core research interest investigates available evidence of brain evolution, focussing on the fossil record and the conservation of gene regulatory elements in different species across the animal kingdom. Dr Hirth has made landmark contributions towards our understanding of the origin of the brain and the mechanisms underlying its development and evolution (e.g. doi:10.1126/science.abn6264; doi:10.1126/sciadv.ade8259; doi:10.1073/pnas.1918797117).

The other strand of Dr Hirth’s research investigates neural circuits in the brain and their degenerative dysfunction. His team and collaborators currently focus on neurodegenerative diseases in which ‘normal’ proteins like TDP43 or alpha-synuclein turn rogue by misfolding and accumulation, ultimately causing the progressive loss of nerve cells that is commonly observed in Dementias, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease (e.g. doi:10.1038/s41583-021-00431-1; doi:10.1093/brain/awab201 ; doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00080).

Biographical details

Dr Hirth holds a PhD and a venia docendi (Habilitation) from the University of Basel in Switzerland. He trained in Neurosciences and Genetics at the universities of Freiburg/Germany, Basel/Switzerland and the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in London. He is a fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS).

 

Teaching

Dr Hirth created, designed and organises the Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration module for third year BSc Neuroscience, Biochemistry and intercalated MBBS students (and others interested). He supervises several MSc and BSc dissertations and projects each year.

In the past, Dr Hirth supervised over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students, all of whom successfully ventured into many areas of industry, higher management and education, as well as academic research.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, The role of developmental control genes in patterning the embryonic brain of Drosophila, University of Basel

Award Date: 1 Jan 1999

Bachelor of Science, Universität Freiburg

Award Date: 1 Jan 1995

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