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Oscar Marín

Professor Oscar Marín FMedSci FRS

Professor of Neuroscience

  • Director, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology
  • Director, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Research interests

  • Biomedical and life sciences
  • Neuroscience

Contact details

Biography

My lab investigates the development of the cerebral cortex in health and disease and our research largely focuses on cortical interneurons. The cerebral cortex is one of the most complex neuronal systems in the brain and much of this complexity emerges from interaction of two distinct neuronal types, glutamatergic projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons.

We believe that our research may contribute to understanding the aetiology of some of the most devastating psychiatric disorders, such as autism or schizophrenia.

I also lead the Department of Developmental Neurobiology and the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which manages the MRC PhD Fellowship Programme.

I regularly engage with the community outside science through media interviews and offering input to science policy and public awareness forums.

Please see my Research Staff Profile for more detail.

Find out more about my research:

Key collaborators:

  • Beatriz Rico, King’s College London
  • Nenad Sestan, Yale University
  • Declan Murphy, King’s College London
  • Philip McGuire, King’s College London

News

King's researchers join £28.5 million Human Functional Genomics Initiative

Professor Oscar Marín and Professor Deepak Srivastava co-lead the research cluster Functional Genomics of Human Brain Development

Brain organoid. Picture by Adam Pavlinek.

Professor Benedikt Berninger delivers inaugural lecture "The Art of Forging Neurons"

On 15 July 2024, Professor Berninger delivered his inaugural lecture as a Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at IoPPN.

Benedikt Berninger Inaugural

Researchers identify neurons responsible for key activity transition in brain development

SST+ and PV+ interneurons are responsible for the transition between early and adult patterns of neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex. This process allows...

Chendelier and MC 780x440

Full house at 10th edition of IoPPN Research Festival

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) celebrated its 10th Research Festival in a packed Wolfson Lecture Theatre. This year's...

RF graphic

Professor Oscar Marín receives the FENS-EJN Award 2024

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN) have announced Professor Oscar Marín as recipient of the...

Oscar Marin 8

Professor Oscar Marín awarded the ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award

Professor Oscar Marín is awarded the 2023 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award for his work on the development of the cerebral cortex and the aetiology of...

Professor Oscar Marín

Scientists identify essential signalling pathway for neuronal connectivity during brain development

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has demonstrated that brain wiring requires the...

A confocal microscopy image illustrating isolated cortical synapses with the presynapses in magenta and the postsynapses in cyan

Professor Oscar Marín Elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society

Professor Oscar Marín from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, a...

Professor Oscar Marín

Two IoPPN researchers become Fellows of the Royal Society

Professors Peter Goadsby and Oscar Marín, both of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience’s (IoPPN) School of Neuroscience, have been elected...

blue brain outline

New research on human brain development sheds light on neurodevelopmental disorders

New research has found that some processes behind the early development of GABAergic neurons, neurons that produce the main inhibitory chemical messenger in...

brain

Events

03DecWith an eye on the brain (3)

Professor Robert Hindges - Inaugural Lecture

Join us in celebrating Professor Robert Hindges' inaugural lecture on 'With an eye on the brain.'

29OctOriginal image - new tech (780 x 440)

King's Experts Series: New Technologies for Mind and Body

The mind and body have long been a source of scientific and philosophical discussion and debate. But with new technologies transforming our understanding of...

Please note: this event has passed.

15JulThe Art of Forging Neurons

Professor Benedikt Berninger - Inaugural Lecture

Join us in celebrating Professor Berninger's inaugural lecture on 'The Art of Forging Neurons.'

Please note: this event has passed.

17MayResearch Festival

IoPPN Research Festival 2023 - 10th Edition - Looking back to look forward

Please join us on 17 May 2023 to celebrate the innovative and exciting research taking place at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at...

Please note: this event has passed.

News

King's researchers join £28.5 million Human Functional Genomics Initiative

Professor Oscar Marín and Professor Deepak Srivastava co-lead the research cluster Functional Genomics of Human Brain Development

Brain organoid. Picture by Adam Pavlinek.

Professor Benedikt Berninger delivers inaugural lecture "The Art of Forging Neurons"

On 15 July 2024, Professor Berninger delivered his inaugural lecture as a Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at IoPPN.

Benedikt Berninger Inaugural

Researchers identify neurons responsible for key activity transition in brain development

SST+ and PV+ interneurons are responsible for the transition between early and adult patterns of neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex. This process allows...

Chendelier and MC 780x440

Full house at 10th edition of IoPPN Research Festival

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) celebrated its 10th Research Festival in a packed Wolfson Lecture Theatre. This year's...

RF graphic

Professor Oscar Marín receives the FENS-EJN Award 2024

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN) have announced Professor Oscar Marín as recipient of the...

Oscar Marin 8

Professor Oscar Marín awarded the ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award

Professor Oscar Marín is awarded the 2023 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award for his work on the development of the cerebral cortex and the aetiology of...

Professor Oscar Marín

Scientists identify essential signalling pathway for neuronal connectivity during brain development

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has demonstrated that brain wiring requires the...

A confocal microscopy image illustrating isolated cortical synapses with the presynapses in magenta and the postsynapses in cyan

Professor Oscar Marín Elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society

Professor Oscar Marín from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, a...

Professor Oscar Marín

Two IoPPN researchers become Fellows of the Royal Society

Professors Peter Goadsby and Oscar Marín, both of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience’s (IoPPN) School of Neuroscience, have been elected...

blue brain outline

New research on human brain development sheds light on neurodevelopmental disorders

New research has found that some processes behind the early development of GABAergic neurons, neurons that produce the main inhibitory chemical messenger in...

brain

Events

03DecWith an eye on the brain (3)

Professor Robert Hindges - Inaugural Lecture

Join us in celebrating Professor Robert Hindges' inaugural lecture on 'With an eye on the brain.'

29OctOriginal image - new tech (780 x 440)

King's Experts Series: New Technologies for Mind and Body

The mind and body have long been a source of scientific and philosophical discussion and debate. But with new technologies transforming our understanding of...

Please note: this event has passed.

15JulThe Art of Forging Neurons

Professor Benedikt Berninger - Inaugural Lecture

Join us in celebrating Professor Berninger's inaugural lecture on 'The Art of Forging Neurons.'

Please note: this event has passed.

17MayResearch Festival

IoPPN Research Festival 2023 - 10th Edition - Looking back to look forward

Please join us on 17 May 2023 to celebrate the innovative and exciting research taking place at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at...

Please note: this event has passed.