Meet Associate Professor Carlo Rinaldi, MA MD PhD, Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Paediatrics, and a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellow. As a clinically trained neurologist, he specialised in caring for patients with hereditary neurological and neuromuscular diseases. He completed a PhD in Translational Neuroscience at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, US, before starting his own research group at Oxford University in 2017.
Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far?
I am a clinically trained neurologist from Italy, mainly specialising in the care of patients with hereditary neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Very quickly in my journey, I realised that I wanted to be able to offer more to patients than a deadly sentence. For this reason, in my last year as a Neurology resident, I joined the lab of Prof Fischbeck at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where over the course of 5 years, I learned what it takes to develop therapies for hereditary neurological conditions. After completing my PhD in Translational Neuroscience there, in 2015, I moved to Oxford as a Clinical Fellow in Matthew Wood’s Lab and in 2017, I was awarded a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship to start my own research group.
What is your research focus?
I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases, with the ultimate goal of identifying targets for therapy. In the lab, we use a combination of 3D stem cell and animal modelling, advanced microscopy, and integrated genomic characterization, to study diseases with high unmet clinical need. In parallel, we are also busy developing innovative gene therapy tools to treat these diseases safely and effectively.
What has been your highlight this past year?
My team has recently identified a fundamental mechanism of regulation of skeletal muscle homeostasis, whereas two transcription factors, SMAD4 and Androgen Receptor, cooperate to maintain muscle mass (Forouhan M et al., 2022 Acta Neuropathologica). This work also provided the basis for a public engagement activity we recently presented at the Oxford IF festival this year, named Muscle Switch!, aimed at challenging the public over what makes us strong by playing a video game with a hand grip dynamometer.
How have you contributed to IDRM life?
As Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Paediatrics, I am involved in setting up workshops and events for students in the Institute, taking advantage of this fantastic facility. Also, I am always up for a sciencey chat at the coffee machine.
What do you look forward to achieving this year at the IDRM?
Together with other colleagues in the Institute, we plan to organise IDRM seminars starting in the New Year. The line-up of speakers looks phenomenal and I look forward to it! And then, of course, grants, papers, and more coffee.
What do you do outside of the lab?
Between the lab, clinic, and family, I have a pretty hectic lifestyle. When I can, I enjoy late evening swims, mixing cocktails for friends (New York sour is my current obsession), and play-fighting with my two boys, who are sadly starting to overpower me.