Prof Simon H. Parson

Professor Simon Parson’s research is focussed on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a young-onset form of motor neuron disease. SMA mainly affects children; those with the most severe form survive for fewer than 3 years. His team is particularly interested in the involvement of the heart and blood vessels in the disease, by using information collected in the laboratory and from patients. This work is helping us to understand how to better treat SMA.

Simon studied Zoology at Durham University as an undergraduate and then a PhD in developmental neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh. He has held academic positions at the University of Leeds and Edinburgh prior to his appointment as Chair in Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen in 2013 and Regius Professor of Anatomy from 2018.