5 Questions with our Deputy Editor
Get to know our new Deputy Editor, Dr. David Breen, as he answers 5 questions about his research and experience and shares his thoughts about becoming involved with the journal.
I pride myself on being first and foremost a good neurologist, but half of my working life is also spent doing research which is very important to me.
Following my PhD in Cambridge (with Prof. Roger Barker) and completion of neurology training (in Cambridge and London), I undertook a Movement Disorders Fellowship in Toronto under the mentorship of Prof. Tony Lang. I returned to Edinburgh in 2018 to establish an integrated movement disorder service based at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic that combines clinical care and research.
My previous research helped to define the sleep phenotype of early Parkinson’s and demonstrated that sleep disturbances were associated with fundamental changes in patients’ hormone and clock gene rhythms. Along with colleagues in the UK and Canada, I have been part of several longitudinal cohort studies that have (amongst other things) contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms and predictors of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s.
What is your current research focused on?
I remain interested in the influence of sleep and circadian disruption on brain health, as well as studying novel lifestyle and environmental PD risk factors using large datasets. I have active research projects seeking to identify causes and treatments for neglected non-motor symptoms in PD. We run a number of clinical trials.
What has been your biggest challenge and your greatest achievement in your career so far?
Like most people, the challenge of keeping the plates spinning is ever present, whilst remembering how much of a privilege it is to have such variety in my work and being sure to enjoy it. I’m lucky to have worked for energetic, creative and inspiring mentors over the years who have provided me with amazing opportunities to learn and try things. My greatest achievement is probably trusting my gut when it comes to deciding on the next steps, most recently moving my family back to Scotland to set up a new clinic and grow the team here. Hopefully there are a few more achievements left to come!
What are you most looking forward to in your role as Deputy Editor?
I was honoured to receive the invitation to work with Malu (EIC) and the team who, along with previous editors, have done an amazing job to establish npj Parkinson’s Disease as a premiere journal for Parkinson’s research. With more advanced research tools and methodologies at our disposal, I’m looking forward to seeing the breadth of research that is submitted to the journal (I will be primarily involved with handling the clinical papers). I hope that I can bring my own ideas to improve the visibility of the journal and its content.
Why should researchers submit their work to npj Parkinson’s Disease?
At npj Parkinson’s Disease, we invite any manuscripts with the potential to improve our understanding of Parkinson’s or the lives of people with the condition. We don’t want to restrict the type of manuscripts that we receive because novel and cross-disciplinary thinking is how we will move things forward. We are interested in basic science through to clinical trials (and everything in between). Our editorial team reflects that mission and we will try our best to combine quick turnaround times with robust feedback, ensuring that we publish high-quality research that piques the interest of the discerning reader!
