Announcing the Inaugural HBI Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year

Dr. Alastair Ferguson, Professor in the Department of Physiology at Queen’s University is the recipient of the inaugural Hotchkiss Brain Institute Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year Award.

Following his BSc in Birmingham, England, Dr. Ferguson came to Calgary in 1977 to complete his PhD in Neurosciences. He then completed a fellowship in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Montreal General Hospital and McGill University, and eventually moved on to Queen’s University in 1984, where he has held administrative appointments as Associate Dean-Life Sciences, Head of the Department of Physiology and Interim Directory of the Cardiac, Circulatory and Respiratory (CCR) Research Program.

To date, Ferguson has supervised 10 Post-Doctoral Research Fellows, 10 PhD students and 20 Masters students. Among these students is HBI member Dr. Jaideep Bains, Associate Professor in Physiology and Pharmacology. Dr. Bains nominated Ferguson for this award because of his passion for engaging young people in the scientific process, his skills in making complex scientific ideas easily accessible and his unique ability to use science as a way to challenge people to bring the best out of themselves.

Dr. Ferguson presented Circumventricular organs as sensors and integrators of circulating signals controlling feeding and drinking at the HBI Seminar on June 11, 2010.

The HBI Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year Award was created to recognize the critical role played by our trainees in our research and academic success. To find out more about the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Neuroscience Alumnus of the Year Award, click here

Pictured (L to R): Dr. Samuel Weiss, Dr. Alastair Ferguson, Dr. Jaideep Bains

Posted June 16, 2010