Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
neurologist at
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
. Albert Juan Aguayo is a Canadian neurologist at McGill University. Hailing from the
Bahia Blanca
Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro) and the 5th-largest by ...
in Argentina, Dr. Aguayo graduated in medicine from the
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba ( es, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba,) is an institution of higher education in the city of Córdoba, Argentina.
Founded in 1613, the university is the oldest in Argentina, the third oldest university of t ...
. After graduating from Argentina, Aguayo continued to train in neurology, working as an assistant physician in
Neurology
Neurology (from el, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal ...
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 ...
and
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
. In the year 1967, McGill University appointed Aguayo as assistant professor in the department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. From the years 2000 to 2005, Aguayo served as the Secretary General for the
International Brain Research Organization
The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is the global federation of neuroscience organizations that aims to promote and support neuroscience around the world through training, teaching, collaborative research, advocacy and outreach. M ...
and then proceeded to become the President of the International Brain Research Organization from the years 2006 to 2008
Research and Career
Dr. Aguayo is best known for his revolutionary research of the demonstration of nerve fibres and nerve function. Aguayo and his team were the first to demonstrate that nerve fibres that are located in the
central nervous system
The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all p ...
and the brain of a mammal are capable of restoring themselves after considerable damage and/or injury. During this research, Aguayo used different techniques such as using lab animals. Aguayo's finding completely revolutionized the research of regenerative medicine. Even though Aguayo was highly skilled in
clinical neurology
Neurology (from el, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal c ...
, he decided to pursue his passion in experimental studies, focusing his research in neurobiology.
In the beginning of his career at McGill University, Aguayo was recruited by Donald Baxter in the clinical neurosciences at McGill University. Recently, Aguayo implemented new types of policies in
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developme ...
Other Work
Aguayo's past organizational responsibilities also include the Presidency of the North-American Society for Neuroscience, the Canadian Association for Neuroscience and the Canadian Neurological Society. He also served for the Canadian Neuroscience Network of Centres of Excellence, working as the Scientific Director.
As well as being a strong advocate of
neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developme ...
, Aguayo has also given many lectures in Canadian, American and foreign universities that include
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
and
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
. He strongly believes in the advancement of Neuroscience in Higher educational institutes. Aguayo is the author of more than 150 scientific publications and has received prestigious degrees from
Lund University
, motto = Ad utrumque
, mottoeng = Prepared for both
, established =
, type = Public research university
, budget = SEK 9 billion Queen's University. He has also taken part in the editorial board of 26 notable journals.
Honorable Mentions
From 2005 to 2008, Aguayo was the president of the
International Brain Research Organization
The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is the global federation of neuroscience organizations that aims to promote and support neuroscience around the world through training, teaching, collaborative research, advocacy and outreach. M ...
as well as being the former Director of McGill University's Centre of Research in Neuroscience. Aguayo is also the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Friedrich Miescher Institute located in the city of Basel, Switzerland and has also newly been appointed into the Consortium Advisory Panel. He has been the recipient of many awards and honorable mentions, including the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
. He was appointed fellow of the
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
in 1993. In 1988, Aguayo received the Canada Gairdner International Award For the discovery of the regrowth of neural connections being possible in injured mammalians' central nervous systems.