Bryce Vissel is an Australian neuroscientist who is a professor of

neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions, and its disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, ...

at the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

. He is the Director of the Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney. He is a specialist in

neurodegenerative diseases A neurodegenerative disease is caused by the progressive loss of neurons, in the process known as neurodegeneration. Neuronal damage may also ultimately result in their death. Neurodegenerative diseases include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, mul ...

, such as

Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

Parkinson's Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become more prevalen ...

, and the neural basis of learning, memory and movement.

Career

After achieving his PhD in medical genetics at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

Vissel joined the

Garvan Institute The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an Australian biomedical research research institute, institute located in , Sydney, New South Wales. Founded in 1963 by the Sisters of Charity of Australia, Sisters of Charity as a research departmen ...

's Neuroscience Division. He was subsequently awarded a

NHMRC The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the main statutory authority of the Australian Government responsible for medical research. It was the eighth largest research funding body in the world in 2016, and NHMRC-funded res ...

CJ Martin Fellowship to pursue neuroscience research with Stephen Heinemann at the

Salk Institute The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a scientific research institute in the La Jolla community of San Diego, California. The independent, non-profit institute was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine; among th ...

. At Salk, Vissel authored studies describing molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic function, and the role of these mechanisms in behaviour, learning and memory, and neurological diseases. He also received a Human Frontiers Program Award and a Fulbright Award. In 2002, Vissel returned to Garvan, taking up a position as Head of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Group before being recruited by UTS. Vissel and UTS established the CNRM in 2017. Incorporating facilities in Botany and St Vincent's Hospital, the Centre focused on research of the brain and spinal cord. In 2021, Vissel and CNRM moved to St Vincent's Hospital Sydney where the research effort continues. Under Vissel's leadership, the CNRM's Brain Regeneration Program has shown that repair appears possible in the Ca1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, the brain's memory centre. These findings have potential to impact treatment of a range of diseases through stimulating the brain's regenerative mechanisms, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other devastating conditions. Vissel was instrumental in introducing

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

-based scientist Professor Reggie Edgerton's pioneering work on spinal cord injuries to Australia,. Vissel was also previously chair of the advisory board of Cellmid Ltd, a position he held since July 2015.

References

Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Academic staff of the University of Technology Sydney Alzheimer's disease researchers Parkinson's disease researchers Australian neuroscientists University of Melbourne alumni {{Australia-academic-bio-stub