John Reynolds (researcher)
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John Noble James Reynolds is a New Zealand medical researcher and academic, and a full professor at the
University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...
's Department of Anatomy, studying learning and movement generation in the
cerebral cortex The cerebral cortex, also known as the cerebral mantle, is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain in humans and other mammals. It is the largest site of Neuron, neural integration in the central nervous system, and plays ...
and
basal ganglia The basal ganglia (BG) or basal nuclei are a group of subcortical Nucleus (neuroanatomy), nuclei found in the brains of vertebrates. In humans and other primates, differences exist, primarily in the division of the globus pallidus into externa ...
with applications in
stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
recovery and
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...
.


Academic career

Reynolds graduated from the
University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...
with a medical degree in 1994, had a medical practice for several years, and then returned to complete his PhD. In 2016 he was appointed a full professor in the Department of Anatomy of the University of Otago. Reynolds received an Ako Aotearoa teaching award in 2008, and in 2017 was appointed the first director of the Heath Sciences First Year (HSFY) programme, which attracts 1300–1400 enrolments a year. In 2010 Reynolds received an inaugural Rutherford Discovery Fellowship for a research programme on rebalancing brain function in both stroke recovery and preventing the progression of epileptic seizures. He has also received a Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Award In 2019 Reynolds became one the few New Zealand researchers to be funded simultaneously by the three largest national research grants: the
Marsden Fund Marsden Fund grants are contestable funding for investigator-led fundamental research in New Zealand. Grants are made in all areas of research in science, engineering, and mathematics. The grants are made from the Marsden Fund, which was establish ...
,
MBIE The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ( MBIE; ) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with "delivering policy, services, advice and regulation" which contribute to New Zealand's economic productivity and business ...
, and the Health Research Council. Along with Philippa Howden-Chapman and
Greg Cook Gregory Lynn Cook (November 20, 1946 – January 27, 2012) was an American football quarterback who played two professional seasons, in the American Football League (AFL) and later the National Football League (NFL). He played college football ...
, he was one of only three University of Otago researchers to have held all three concurrently. Reynolds is part of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge, spent five years as chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Neurological Foundation of NZ, and is an associate director of the
Centre of Research Excellence The Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) are interorganisational research networks in New Zealand funded through the Centres of Research Excellence scheme, which is administered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). History The scheme w ...
Brain Research New Zealand.


Research

Reynolds' work is focused on the patterns of brain cell activity in both normal and disordered brains: learning, the mechanism of memory, and the effects of Parkinson's disease and strokes on brain circuitry.
Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or just plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through neurogenesis, growth and reorganization. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and rewir ...
– how the brain is able to "rewire its circuits" – and its application to neuralogical disorders was the focus of his three largest research grants. Projects include development of targeted drug therapy for Parkinson's disease, and stimulation therapies for
tinnitus Tinnitus is a condition when a person hears a ringing sound or a different variety of sound when no corresponding external sound is present and other people cannot hear it. Nearly everyone experiences faint "normal tinnitus" in a completely ...
and stroke recovery. His research group study the effects of neuromodulation in changing synaptic plasticity and restoring normal learning and movement.


Selected works

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References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, John Living people New Zealand academics University of Otago alumni Academic staff of the University of Otago New Zealand medical researchers Year of birth missing (living people)