Orla Hardiman

My primary research interests include the epidemiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with particular reference to the identification of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors. My internationally-recognized group recently identified an important new susceptibility gene for ALS, which occurs with higher frequency in populations of Celtic extraction. The group is in active collaboration with many of the major ALS centres in Europe and the USA, and is a member of the US based Genome Wide Association Consortium for ALS. Recent work has also focused on the clinical and genetic overlap between ALS and frontotemporal dementia, for which I have received one of only eight prestigious Health Research Board (HRB) Clinician Scientist Awards.