Stephen Dunnett
Encyclopedia
Stephen Dunnett (born 28 January 1950)
is a British neuroscientist
, and among the most highly cited researcher
s in the neurosciences. He is a professor at Cardiff University
and the founder and co-director of the Brain Repair Group, where he works on developing cell therapies
for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease
and Huntington's disease
.
, an independent school
, then won an open exhibition
to study Mathematics at Churchill College, Cambridge
. After graduating in 1972, he worked for several years as social worker in the London Borough of Southwark
.
He returned to university to study for a second bachelor's degree
in psychology at Birkbeck College, London,
from where he graduated in 1978 with the prize for the top first class degree in the Faculty of Sciences. Dunnett then returned to Cambridge University in 1978 as a research student at Clare College
and was awarded a PhD in experimental psychology
in 1981.
in 1981-2, Dunnett
returned to Cambridge until his move to Cardiff University in 2000. He was a Fellow
of Clare College from 1984 onwards, and from 1992 to 1999 he was also Director of Scientific Programmes at the Medical Research Council
Centre for Brain Repair in Cambridge. For many years, Dunnett was editor in chief
of Brain Research Bulletin
.
awarded Dunnett the Spearman medal for outstanding published work by an early-career researcher. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
the next year, of the Academy of Medical Sciences
in 2003, and of the Learned Society of Wales
in 2011. He was the Knight Visiting Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine
in 1992. Dunnett has also been awarded the Alfred Mayer medal of the British Neuropathological Society
(1998) and Honorary Fellowship of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
(2002).
is a British neuroscientist
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist is an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience or any of its related sub-fields...
, and among the most highly cited researcher
ISI highly cited researcher
ISI Highly Cited is a database of "highly cited researchers"—scientific researchers whose publications are most often cited in academic journals over the past decade, published by the Institute for Scientific Information...
s in the neurosciences. He is a professor at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
and the founder and co-director of the Brain Repair Group, where he works on developing cell therapies
Cell therapy
Cell therapy describes the process of introducing new cells into a tissue in order to treat a disease. Cell therapies often focus on the treatment of hereditary diseases, with or without the addition of gene therapy...
for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
.
Early life and education
Dunnett was born in London, where he attended Eltham CollegeEltham College
This article is about the school in London, England. For the school in Research, Australia see Eltham College of Education.Eltham College is an independent school situated in Mottingham in south-east London...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, then won an open exhibition
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
to study Mathematics at Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
. After graduating in 1972, he worked for several years as social worker in the London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
.
He returned to university to study for a second bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in psychology at Birkbeck College, London,
from where he graduated in 1978 with the prize for the top first class degree in the Faculty of Sciences. Dunnett then returned to Cambridge University in 1978 as a research student at Clare College
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
and was awarded a PhD in experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
in 1981.
Academic career
After a brief spell as a visiting research scientist at Lund UniversityLund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in 1981-2, Dunnett
returned to Cambridge until his move to Cardiff University in 2000. He was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of Clare College from 1984 onwards, and from 1992 to 1999 he was also Director of Scientific Programmes at the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
Centre for Brain Repair in Cambridge. For many years, Dunnett was editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Brain Research Bulletin
Brain Research Bulletin
Brain Research Bulletin is a peer-reviewed scientific journal of neuroscience. It was established in 1976 with Matthew J. Wayner as founding editor in chief. Later it was edited by Stephen Dunnett . He was succeeded in 2010 by Andres Buonanno...
.
Awards and honours
In 1988, the British Psychological SocietyBritish Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
awarded Dunnett the Spearman medal for outstanding published work by an early-career researcher. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
the next year, of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
in 2003, and of the Learned Society of Wales
Learned Society of Wales
The Learned Society of Wales is a society that exists to “celebrate, recognise, preserve, protect and encourage excellence in all of the scholarly disciplines”.The society was launched on 25 May 2010 at the National Museum of Wales...
in 2011. He was the Knight Visiting Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine
Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is the school of medical education of the University of Miami. The main medical campus is located in the Civic Center, Miami, Florida within the UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center complex...
in 1992. Dunnett has also been awarded the Alfred Mayer medal of the British Neuropathological Society
British Neuropathological Society
The British Neuropathological Society is a professional organisation dedicated to the science of neuropathology. It is one of several national societies composed of neuropathologists...
(1998) and Honorary Fellowship of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
The International Behavioral Neuroscience Society , was founded in 1992. The goal of the IBNS is to "encourage research and education in the field of behavioral neuroscience". Its current president is D. Caroline Blanchard...
(2002).