The Generative Brain

MRC Prion Unit at UCL (UCL Institute of Prion Diseases and National Prion Clinic)

UCL unit and Institute of Prion Diseases that runs the UK National Prion Clinic, the National Prion Monitoring Cohort and the PRN100 antibody work, and studies genetics, biochemistry and therapeutics. Directed by John Collinge since 1998 with Simon Mead as deputy; UK prion funding has come under pressure since 2025.

Key facts

  • UCL MRC Prion Unit: multidisciplinary programmes (structure, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, cell and animal models, clinical research including treatment trials); developing a blood test for prion protein; two programmes to develop novel therapies.
  • Abstract book listing groups at UCL MRC Prion Unit, NIAID RML, Case Western/NPDPSC, CDC, UCSF; includes tear fluid RT-QuIC for prion disease diagnosis.
  • International author group: NPDPSC (Brian Appleby), Goettingen National Reference Center for Human Prion Diseases (Inga Zerr), UCL Institute of Prion Diseases (Simon Mead), Florey CJD Registry (Melbourne), Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Neurological Institute.
  • Research spans molecular structure, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, cell and animal models and clinical research including therapeutic development.
  • Institute researchers developed a humanised antibody (PRN100) and, with industry, new small molecule therapeutics; they also study misfolding mechanisms relevant to Alzheimer disease.
  • The genetics group led by Simon Mead has found risk variants in or near genes other than PRNP, develops methylation classifiers and biofluid biomarkers for CJD and studies adaptation to kuru in Papua New Guinea.
  • John Collinge directs the unit and the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases (founded 2017) and the National Prion Clinic; Simon Mead is Deputy Director and Clinical Lead of the clinic.
  • News items list a September 2026 study of an acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for people at risk of inherited prion disease and a 14 April 2026 Open Day for patients, relatives and at-risk family members.
  • A patient charity reported in April 2025 that funding for the MRC Prion Unit and the National Prion Clinic was also reduced when the Edinburgh surveillance unit closed (secondary source, not an official notice).

Timeline

  1. 1998Unit founded under John Collinge.
  2. 2017UCL Institute of Prion Diseases founded.
  3. 2025Charity statement on reduced UK prion funding.
  4. 2026Open Day for patients, relatives and at-risk family members.
  5. 2026Study of an intervention for people at risk of inherited prion disease announced.
Sources for this page