Albert Juan Aguayo (born July 16, 1934) is a

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, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...

. 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, wikt:νεῦρον, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix wikt:-logia, -logia, "study of") is the branch of specialty (medicine), medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of co ...

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

and

. 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 par ...

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, development ...

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, development ...

, Aguayo has also given many lectures in Canadian, American and foreign universities that include

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 higher le ...

. 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

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 ...

. 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.

References

*http://www.mcgill.ca/channels/events/item/?item_id=116557 {{DEFAULTSORT:Aguayo, Albert 1934 births Living people Argentine emigrants to Canada Canadian neuroscientists Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Academic staff of McGill University Officers of the Order of Canada Members of the National Academy of Medicine