Dr Alfredo Iacoangeli is a distinguished computational biologist whose innovative work bridges physics, genomics, and neuroscience at King's College London. He currently serves as Reader in Bioinformatics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience where he leads sophisticated analyses of large-scale genomic datasets. After training as a physicist with a master's degree in Biophysics, he completed his PhD cum laude in Life Sciences from Sapienza University of Rome in January 2016 before joining King's College London. His unconventional career trajectory from physics to biomedical research has equipped him with exceptional quantitative skills that he now applies to complex neurological disorders. Dr Iacoangeli's interdisciplinary expertise positions him as a unique contributor to the understanding of genetic factors underlying neurodegenerative conditions.
Dr Iacoangeli's groundbreaking research centers on the analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through large-scale genomic approaches as a key bioinformatician in the international Project MinE initiative. This ambitious collaboration aims to collect whole genome sequencing data from approximately 22 000 individuals including 15 000 ALS patients making it one of the most comprehensive genomic studies of this devastating disease. He has developed innovative computational methods that extend beyond conventional analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms to identify novel genetic factors contributing to ALS development and progression. His work additionally investigates the gut-brain axis in ALS through integration of metagenomics metabolomics and clinical data revealing critical connections between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. These sophisticated analytical approaches have provided essential insights into the complex genetic architecture of ALS paving the way for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Beyond his direct research contributions Dr Iacoangeli plays a vital role in advancing global collaboration through Project MinE which spans multiple countries to overcome challenges inherent in studying rare diseases. His significant impact on neurodegenerative disease research was recognized with the prestigious Paulo Gontijo Award in 2024 presented by King's College London. Dr Iacoangeli continues to pioneer new methodologies for analyzing increasingly large genomic datasets while mentoring the next generation of computational biologists. His current research focuses on integrating multi-omics approaches to unravel the intricate interplay between genetic environmental and microbial factors in neurological disorders. As genomic technologies rapidly evolve Dr Iacoangeli's work remains at the forefront of translating complex data into meaningful biological insights with potential clinical applications for patients suffering from neurodegenerative conditions.
