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Kate Millson
MIScT BSc (Hons)
Teams and roles for Kate Millson
Data Manager
Overview
I am a research data manager with extensive experience supporting large-scale mental health and neuropsychiatric research. As Data Manager for the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), I oversee the governance, management and use of research data, helping to ensure that complex clinical, demographic and genomic datasets are curated, accessible and used responsibly.
My background spans research data management, genomics, laboratory research and research programme management, primarily across human neuropsychiatric genetics and genomics, as well as health and ecology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while based in within the Genomics Research Hub, I contributed to genomic sequencing efforts supporting SARS-CoV-2 research. I have contributed to major national and international collaborations and supported researchers in maximising the value of their data while maintaining high standards of governance and compliance.
What motivates me is the knowledge that research can make a real difference to people's lives. My career has taken me from generating genomic data in the laboratory to managing complex research datasets, giving me a unique perspective on the importance of high-quality data throughout the research process and its role in enabling scientific discovery.
Publication
2026
- Gergel, T. et al., 2026. A tool to evaluate the impact of lived experience involvement in research: the Brain and Genomics Hub Impact Log protocol. Wellcome Open Research 11 562. (10.12688/wellcomeopenres.27426.1)
- Smart, S. E. et al. 2026. Genetics to Improve Outcomes in Schizophrenia (GENios): A within-case molecular genetic study protocol. PLoS ONE 21 (2) e0340584. (10.1371/journal.pone.0340584)
2025
- Nicolas, A. et al., 2025. Transferability of European-derived Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk scores across multiancestry populations. Nature Genetics 57 , pp.1598-1610. (10.1038/s41588-025-02227-w)
- Harvey, J. et al., 2025. Epigenetic insights into neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A DNA co-methylation network analysis.. npj Parkinson's Disease 11 (1), pp.39. (10.1038/s41531-025-00877-5)
2024
- Tan, M. M. X. et al., 2024. Genome-wide determinants of mortality and motor progression in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinson's Disease 10 (1) 113. (10.1038/s41531-024-00729-8)
- Wu, L. Y. et al., 2024. Investigation of the genetic aetiology of Lewy body diseases with and without dementia. Brain Communications 6 (4) fcae190. (10.1093/braincomms/fcae190)
2023
- Real, R. et al., 2023. Association between the LRP1B and APOE loci in the development of Parkinson’s disease dementia. Brain 146 (5), pp.1873-1887. (10.1093/brain/awac414)
- Winchester, L. et al., 2023. Identification of a possible proteomic biomarker in Parkinson’s disease: discovery and replication in blood, brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Brain Communications 5 (1) fcac343. (10.1093/braincomms/fcac343)
2022
- Willett, B. J. et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway. Nature Microbiology 7 , pp.1161-1179. (10.1038/s41564-022-01143-7)
- Eales, O. et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 lineage dynamics in England from September to November 2021: high diversity of Delta sub-lineages and increased transmissibility of AY.4.2. BMC Infectious Diseases 22 (1) 647. (10.1186/s12879-022-07628-4)
- Nickbakhsh, S. et al., 2022. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning. Scientific Reports 12 (1) 11735. (10.1038/s41598-022-15661-1)
- Kläser, K. et al., 2022. COVID-19 due to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort study. Scientific Reports 12 (1) 10904. (10.1038/s41598-022-14016-0)
- Bellenguez, C. et al., 2022. New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Nature Genetics 54 (4), pp.412-436. (10.1038/s41588-022-01024-z)
- Aggarwal, D. et al., 2022. Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission. Nature Communications 13 1012. (10.1038/s41467-022-28371-z)
- Aggarwal, D. et al., 2022. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission. Nature Communications 13 (1) 751. (10.1038/s41467-021-27942-w)
2021
- de Rojas, I. et al., 2021. Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores. Nature Communications 12 (1) 3417. (10.1038/s41467-021-22491-8)
- Lythgoe, K. A. et al., 2021. SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity and transmission. Science 372 (6539) eabg0821. (10.1126/science.abg0821)
- Davies, N. G. et al., 2021. Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England. Science 372 (6538) eabg3055. (10.1126/science.abg3055)
- Tan, M. M. et al., 2021. Genome-wide association studies of cognitive and motor progression in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders 36 (2), pp.424-433. (10.1002/mds.28342)
2020
- Alm, E. et al., 2020. Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020. Eurosurveillance 25 (32) 2001410. (10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.32.2001410)
2019
- Tan, M. M. et al., 2019. Genetic analysis of Mendelian mutations in a large UK population-based Parkinson's disease study. Brain 142 (9), pp.2828-2844. (10.1093/brain/awz191)
2018
- Malek, N. et al., 2018. Features of GBA-associated Parkinson's disease at presentation in the UK Tracking Parkinson's study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 89 (7), pp.702-709. (10.1136/jnnp-2017-317348)
2016
- Malek, N. et al., 2016. Olfaction in Parkin single and compound heterozygotes in a cohort of young onset Parkinson's disease patients. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 134 (4), pp.271-276. (10.1111/ane.12538)
2015
- Malek, N. et al., 2015. Tracking Parkinson's: study design and baseline patient data. Journal of Parkinson's Disease 5 (4), pp.947-959. (10.3233/JPD-150662)
Articles
- Gergel, T. et al., 2026. A tool to evaluate the impact of lived experience involvement in research: the Brain and Genomics Hub Impact Log protocol. Wellcome Open Research 11 562. (10.12688/wellcomeopenres.27426.1)
- Smart, S. E. et al. 2026. Genetics to Improve Outcomes in Schizophrenia (GENios): A within-case molecular genetic study protocol. PLoS ONE 21 (2) e0340584. (10.1371/journal.pone.0340584)
- Nicolas, A. et al., 2025. Transferability of European-derived Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk scores across multiancestry populations. Nature Genetics 57 , pp.1598-1610. (10.1038/s41588-025-02227-w)
- Harvey, J. et al., 2025. Epigenetic insights into neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A DNA co-methylation network analysis.. npj Parkinson's Disease 11 (1), pp.39. (10.1038/s41531-025-00877-5)
- Tan, M. M. X. et al., 2024. Genome-wide determinants of mortality and motor progression in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinson's Disease 10 (1) 113. (10.1038/s41531-024-00729-8)
- Wu, L. Y. et al., 2024. Investigation of the genetic aetiology of Lewy body diseases with and without dementia. Brain Communications 6 (4) fcae190. (10.1093/braincomms/fcae190)
- Real, R. et al., 2023. Association between the LRP1B and APOE loci in the development of Parkinson’s disease dementia. Brain 146 (5), pp.1873-1887. (10.1093/brain/awac414)
- Winchester, L. et al., 2023. Identification of a possible proteomic biomarker in Parkinson’s disease: discovery and replication in blood, brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Brain Communications 5 (1) fcac343. (10.1093/braincomms/fcac343)
- Willett, B. J. et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway. Nature Microbiology 7 , pp.1161-1179. (10.1038/s41564-022-01143-7)
- Eales, O. et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 lineage dynamics in England from September to November 2021: high diversity of Delta sub-lineages and increased transmissibility of AY.4.2. BMC Infectious Diseases 22 (1) 647. (10.1186/s12879-022-07628-4)
- Nickbakhsh, S. et al., 2022. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning. Scientific Reports 12 (1) 11735. (10.1038/s41598-022-15661-1)
- Kläser, K. et al., 2022. COVID-19 due to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort study. Scientific Reports 12 (1) 10904. (10.1038/s41598-022-14016-0)
- Bellenguez, C. et al., 2022. New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Nature Genetics 54 (4), pp.412-436. (10.1038/s41588-022-01024-z)
- Aggarwal, D. et al., 2022. Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission. Nature Communications 13 1012. (10.1038/s41467-022-28371-z)
- Aggarwal, D. et al., 2022. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission. Nature Communications 13 (1) 751. (10.1038/s41467-021-27942-w)
- de Rojas, I. et al., 2021. Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores. Nature Communications 12 (1) 3417. (10.1038/s41467-021-22491-8)
- Lythgoe, K. A. et al., 2021. SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity and transmission. Science 372 (6539) eabg0821. (10.1126/science.abg0821)
- Davies, N. G. et al., 2021. Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England. Science 372 (6538) eabg3055. (10.1126/science.abg3055)
- Tan, M. M. et al., 2021. Genome-wide association studies of cognitive and motor progression in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders 36 (2), pp.424-433. (10.1002/mds.28342)
- Alm, E. et al., 2020. Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020. Eurosurveillance 25 (32) 2001410. (10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.32.2001410)
- Tan, M. M. et al., 2019. Genetic analysis of Mendelian mutations in a large UK population-based Parkinson's disease study. Brain 142 (9), pp.2828-2844. (10.1093/brain/awz191)
- Malek, N. et al., 2018. Features of GBA-associated Parkinson's disease at presentation in the UK Tracking Parkinson's study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 89 (7), pp.702-709. (10.1136/jnnp-2017-317348)
- Malek, N. et al., 2016. Olfaction in Parkin single and compound heterozygotes in a cohort of young onset Parkinson's disease patients. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 134 (4), pp.271-276. (10.1111/ane.12538)
- Malek, N. et al., 2015. Tracking Parkinson's: study design and baseline patient data. Journal of Parkinson's Disease 5 (4), pp.947-959. (10.3233/JPD-150662)
Research
Research interests
My work focuses on the management, governance and stewardship of research data within large-scale mental health and neuropsychiatric research studies. I am interested in how high-quality data management supports robust, reproducible research and enables researchers to answer important questions about the causes, outcomes and treatment of mental health conditions.
Having worked across laboratory science, genomics and data management, I am particularly interested in the full lifecycle of research data, from data generation and quality assurance through to long-term curation, sharing and reuse.
Current work
As Data Manager for the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), I support the management and governance of one of the UK's largest mental health research resources. NCMH brings together information from thousands of participants to help researchers better understand mental health conditions and develop improved approaches to diagnosis, treatment and support.
My work involves overseeing data governance, supporting researchers' access to data, implementing data management processes, and helping to ensure that data are used responsibly and effectively to maximise research impact.
Collaborative research
Throughout my career I have worked with researchers, clinicians, data scientists and laboratory scientists, within the University, across the UK and internationally. My experience spans mental health research, neuropsychiatric genetics and genomics, next-generation and single-cell sequencing and large-scale collaborative research programmes.
Taking part in research
High-quality research depends on the generosity of participants who are willing to contribute their time, experiences and information to improve our understanding of health and disease.
The National Centre for Mental Health is continually seeking to involve people with lived experience of mental health conditions, as well as family members and volunteers, in research. By taking part, individuals can help shape future discoveries and contribute to better understanding, treatment and support for mental health conditions.
Learn more about taking part in NCMH research: National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH)
Biography
2026 - present: Data Manager, National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH)
2024 - 2026: Data Manager, Psychosis Research Group, Division of Psychological Medicine & Clinical Neurosciences
2020 - 2024 Senior Technician (Genome Research Hub), School of Biosciences.
2019 - 2020: Research Manager, Alzheimer's Research Group, Division of Psychological Medicine & Clinical Neurosciences
2018 - 2019: Sample Co-Ordinator, Alzheimer's Research Group, Division of Psychological Medicine & Clinical Neurosciences
2012 - 2018: Senior Research Technician, Parkinson's Research Group, Division of Psychological Medicine & Clinical Neurosciences
2010 - 2012: Research Technician, Core Facility, Division of Psychological Medicine & Clinical Neurosciences
Honours and awards
Registered Scientist (RSci), awarded by Science Council (2018)
Professional memberships
Member of the Institute of Science and Technology
Contact Details
+44 29206 88362
Hadyn Ellis Building, Floor First Floor, Room NCMH Office, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- Data management
- Medical genetics
- Genomics
- Whole genome sequencing
- Project management