Neurophysiologist; Professor of neurology & physiology, Director of Centre for Research in Neuroscience, McGill U. & Montreal General Hosp. Rsch Inst.; Director, Can. Network of Ctrs. of Excellence for the study of Neural Regeneration and Functional Recovery
Montreal General Hospital, Neuroscience Unit; McGill U.
Albert Aguayo is a neurophysiologist at the Montreal General Hospital. He proved that damaged nerve cells in animals can regenerate and form new connections, which was regarded as impossible before his revolutionary 1980 experiment on severed nerve fibers in the rodent brain. Nerve cells do not die immediately when damaged but may survive even for months. This survival provides opportunity for healing, under the right conditions, such as the enveloping presence of Schwann cells (support cells that provide structure and insulation). Although actual cures of serious injuries have not yet been achieved, more recent research with the optic nerves indicates some recovery of function. He has been president of the Society for Neuroscience, and is head of neurology and neuroscience at Montreal General Hospital as well as head of a major center of excellence known for studies of regeneration by neurons in the brain. Dr. Aguayo is a recipient of the Gairdner Award.
MD, U. Cordoba, Argentina, 1959; Dr. Honoris Causa, U. Lund, Sweden; Cert. specialist in neurology, Quebec, cert. EEG specialist, Quebec. Prof. neurology and physiology, McGill U.; Dir., Ctr. for Rsch in Neuroscience, McGill U. and Montreal Gen. Hosp. Rsch Inst.; Dir., Can. Network of Ctrs. of Excellence for the study of Neural Regeneration. Awards: Order of Canada; Gairdner Fdn. International award; Ipsen award on Neural Plasticity; WH Helmerich III award for Outstanding Achievement in retina research, 1991. Rsch. Fellow Banting Inst., U. of T., 1963-64; Fellow Royal Soc. of Can.; N. Amer. Soc. for Neurosci. (pres.); Can. Neurol. Soc. (pres.); Third world Congress of the Internat. Brain Rsch. Orgn. (Pres.)
Sources: Who's Who in America, 1994; The Gazette; Newsweek, Oct. 7, 1985; Boston Globe, Oct. 19, 1992; Rideau Hall, Ottawa.
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