Dr Neil Morgan BSc, PhD

• PhD in Molecular Genetics 2005
• BSc (Hons) Applied Biochemistry 1994

Neil Morgan qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biochemistry from Liverpool John Moores University in 1994. His first post was as Research Assistant at Guy’s Hospital until 2000 followed by a brief spell as a Research Associate at Leicester University. He joined the Medical and Molecular Genetics group at the University of Birmingham where he went on to study for a PhD in Molecular Genetics. In 2011 he was appointed as a lecturer in the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2016.

• MRes Cardiovascular Science, Deputy Programme Lead
• MRes Cardiovascular Biology, Module Coordinator
• MSc in Genomic Medicine
• Pharmacy MPharm (4 year) Yr1
• Medicine and Surgery MBChB Yr2
• Biomedical Science BSc, Vascular Biology and Pathology, Yr3 Module Coordinator
• Biomedical Science BSc, Yr1-3
• Biomedical Materials Science BMedSc Yr1

Neil is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

• Gene identification of inherited bleeding disorders
• Next generation sequencing technologies in human disease gene identification
• Platelet and Megakaryocyte Biology of novel disease genes mutated in inherited thrombocytopenia

Current PhD students: Ben Johnson, Jane Futterer, Abdullah Khan, Annabel Maclachlan

A major aim of his research at the University of Birmingham has been to identify novel genes for inherited diseases to allow improved genetic diagnosis and gain important insights into the pathogenesis of the disorder and elucidate the function of the disease gene. His current research is focusing on the molecular genetics of patients with platelet-based bleeding disorders and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). He utilises the latest next generation sequencing technologies to identify novel gene defects providing clues to genes and proteins involved in normal platelet physiology which will ultimately lead to devising new treatment strategies to minimise the risk of bleeding in such patients.

His past research has primarily involved identification of the novel genes for inherited diseases of the haematopoietic system. He has been extremely successful in his pursuit and key findings include: 

• SLFN14 mutations causing an inherited bleeding disorder with thrombocytopenia and platelet secretion defects
• TRAC mutations causing a novel immunodeficiency disorder  
• SLC29A3 mutations causing familial Faisalabad histiocytosis/Rosai-Dorfman disease
• BLOC1S3 mutations causing a novel form of Hermansky Pudlak disorder (HPS8)
• CHRNG, RAPSN and DOK7 mutations causing multiple pterygia syndrome/foetal akinesia deformation sequence
• PLA2G6 mutations causing a spectrum of childhood onset neurodegenerative disorders associated with brain iron accumulation

Chief investigator of the Genotyping and Phenotyping of Platelets (GAPP) study  for the management and recruitment of patients with inherited bleeding disorders.

Principal Editor for the Platelets journal

Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership (GeCIP) domain for Immunology and Haematology (Member)

Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences representative for Genomics, including the 100K Genome Collection Centre (Lead)

Contribute to the newly established Platelet Charity.  Advise and provide website information for patients and their families with platelet function disorders

Advisor to “Funnyblood”. Funny Blood raises awareness of Platelet Function Disorders (PFDs), signposts information to support families living with the little-known condition and fundraises for the ongoing care of sufferers at the Haemophilia Unit in Birmingham Children’s Hospital

Working with  the BHF to promote research, speaking at BHF/West Midlands Heart supporter group events and BHF Community Fundraising Conferences.