Inaugural lecture of Professor David Lyons

Professor of Neurobiology

Brainworks: How are brains formed and how should we treat them

The human brain represents the most complex organisation of matter in our known universe. Therefore, understanding how it is formed, how it functions, and how we might treat it remain enormous challenges for the global research community. Given the burden to our society of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders, these challenges need to be addressed.

In his inaugural lecture Professor David Lyons will discuss how understanding the fundamental dynamic biological mechanisms and principles that underpin brain formation, function and adaptation provide insights that help us understand its malformation, dysfunction and disease. Professor Lyons will show that it is now possible to directly observe the brain in both health and disease using simple laboratory models. Professor Lyons will also explain why his laboratory uses the small transparent zebrafish as a model, and how their work aims to help find treatments for conditions of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS).