| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Director (2011-2013) |
Richard Apps |
| Outgoing Director | Iain Gilchrist |
| Clinical Neurosciences | Alastair Wilkins, Liz Couthard and Tony Pickering |
| Psychiatry | Glyn Lewis |
| Centre for Neural Plasticity | Kei Cho |
| Centre for Neurodynamics | Zaf Bashir |
| Members | Matt Jones, Emma Robinson, Hans Reul |
| Co-founders | Graham Collingridge and Stafford Lightman |
BN is guided by a Director and Steering Group that ensures the ongoing achievement of BN, and implementing our strategic vision for neuroscience in Bristol.
The Group has both stability and innovation thanks to its rotating structure.
Innovation is brought to the group by having a new Director every two years. Over a period of time all sectors in BN can therefore be represented, bring new viewpoints and fresh ideas.
Stability and continuity is achieved by having a Director Elect and Outgoing Director as well as full Director; subsequent Directors therefore overlap, and each spends a total of six years in the Group.
Please feel free to contact members of the Steering Group (see BN Directory for contact details). Your thoughts and ideas are always very welcome.
"It's a very exciting time for neuroscience in Bristol. Through our Strategic Plan, BN can consolidate its strengths and push forward the UK's research agenda for neuroscience."
Professor Richard Apps
BN Director
Professor Richard Apps is well-placed to lead the neuroscience community in Bristol.
He has a long association with the University, a passion for neuroscience, wide-ranging experience of roles in the University, research councils, and academic societies, as well as an ambition and commitment to drive BN forward and have greater impact at an international level.
Richard sees the chief priority during his time as Director as taking our Strategy Plan from paper and turning into reality. Launched in spring 2011, with input from across the BN community, the BN Stratgey describes our vision for neuroscience over the next 5-10 years.
"It's a very exciting time for neuroscience in Bristol. Developments such as the new research-dedicated MRI centre, CRIC, relocation of clinical neurosciences to the forthcoming flagship hospital at Southmead, and new investment in training, e.g the Wellcome Trust Neural Dynamics PhD programme, mean that BN can consolidate its strengths and push forward the UK's research agenda for neuroscience." said Richard.
"Strengthening cross-disciplinary research is, I think, of paramount importance. Linking neuroscientists with engineers, chemists, mathematicians and clinicians is how BN can make the really significant breakthroughs in fundamental and clinical research, and bring lasting benefits across society."
"I see joint supervision of studentships as the engine house to drive these links. As Director of an MRC Capacity Building PhD programme, a Wellcome Trust PhD programme and co-founder of a new MRes Neuroscience course I have plenty of relevant experience that I can bring to developing such training intiatives in BN."
"Collaboration at individual and organisational levels, particularly through training, will underpin BN's abilty to make an increasingly important contribution to international neuroscience research."
Richard’s own field of expertise lies in the neuroscience of neuronal pathways and circuitry. In particular, he studies motor systems, looking at the role of the cerebellum in movement control and the way that cerebellar pathways are rmodulated during behaviour. (More on his research).
His PhD training was carried out at the University of Bristol in the late 1980s, studying the cerebellum under the supervision of Professor David Armstrong. Richard continued as permanent member of staff, was promoted to a Personal Chair in Neuroscience in 2007, and he plays an active and important part in University life; he is Theme Leader for systems neuroscience in the School of Physiology and Pharmacology, heavily involved in teaching and training, and he is also a REF panel member.
You can contact Richard at b-n@bristol.ac.uk.