Tbilisi State Medical University and University College London (UCL) have expressed their readiness to strengthen cooperation in research, diagnostics and the investigation of genetic causes of cerebral palsy in children.

On 14–15 August, Dr. Reza Maroofian, Principal Investigator and Specialist at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, visited TSMU. Within the framework of the visit, Dr. Maroofian met with Professor Irakli Natroshvili, Rector of TSMU, Professor Tinatin Tkemeladze, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Associate Professor Tinatin Kilasonia, Head of the Department of International Relations.

For the past two years, TSMU and UCL have been actively collaborating on a joint project focusing on genetic analyses of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, aiming to identify rare genetic diseases responsible for these conditions. Such research is essential for the subsequent treatment, management and prevention of these disorders. The ongoing project particularly addresses neurological problems among children from ethnic minority communities in Kvemo Kartli.

The collaboration has already produced significant scientific outcomes: two joint publications have appeared in high-impact journals, Nature Genetics and Movement Disorders (PMID: 40590574, PMID: 39578646).

During the meeting, both parties agreed to expand the scope of their cooperation. Rector of TSMU is a paediatric neurologist and emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that at the Ken Walker University Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation, he receives nearly 400 patients monthly diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Dr. Maroofian proposed that all genetic analyses of children with cerebral palsy from Georgia be sent to UCL’s research center, where the testing would be conducted free of charge and the results subsequently shared with Georgian specialists. The partners agreed that the project would not only support patient diagnostics but also lead to publications in high-impact international journals and the establishment of a genetic database in Georgia.

“We would be delighted to host your students, train them in database processing and provide them with the skills to develop and manage such databases in Georgia. Many countries are currently establishing national genetic databases and biobanks. Creating such a resource will help identify which genetic disorders are prevalent in your population and determine the frequency of particular genotypes—knowledge that is essential for advancing precision medicine. This collaboration will be mutually beneficial for both institutions,” stated Dr. Maroofian.

Professor Irakli Natroshvili guided Dr. Maroofian on a visit to the Ken Walker University Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation.

The UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology is one of the world’s leading and most productive neuroscience research centres, renowned for its high-impact publications and global partnerships with leading research institutions. According to Dr. Maroofian, the Institute places particular emphasis on enhancing collaboration with and providing support to countries with limited resources—an area where Georgia is of special interest.