Leading neurosurgery research

The University’s first Professor of Neurosurgery to help lead the next generation of neurosurgeons and neurosurgery research has been appointed.

Professor William Gray becomes the University’s Professor of Functional Neurosurgery, a joint appointment between the Schools of Medicine and Biosciences and Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, designed to combine academic and clinical expertise in neurosurgery in Wales.

"Cardiff presents an excellent collaborative academic and clinical environment and I can think of no better place for pursuing my basic and clinical stem cell research.

"I am very much looking forward to helping establish epilepsy surgery and cell based therapies for Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, here in Wales." said Professor Gray, School of Medicine.

William Gray is the former Professor of Neurosurgery at Southampton University. In addition to his academic interests he was responsible for the adult and paediatric epilepsy surgery at the Wessex region at the Wessex Neurological Centre.

"Liam’s a key appointment for further developing neurosurgery in Wales and for integrating it with our strengths in Clinical and Basic Neurosciences" according to Professor Mike Owen, Head of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine.

"He is unusual in being a distinguished neurosurgeon who also has a strong track record in neuroscience research. His research expertise will have synergies with work on cellular therapies in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease in the school of Biosciences and also with work on the brain mechanisms of memory in the school of Psychology," he added.

Professor Ole Petersen, Director of the School of Biosciences said: "Liam Grays’ appointment is very important for the School of Biosciences and presents a great opportunity to link the current basic research, particularly in the groups of Professors Stephen Dunnett and Vincenzo Crunelli, with clinical investigations."

Graham Shortland, Cardiff and Vale UHB’s Medical Director, welcomed the appointment and said it was another example of the collaborative approach being taken by the university and health board that would reap many benefits.

He said: "Professor Gray brings a wealth of expertise that will be of great benefit to the clinical services we provide which will enhance the service to patients, the training for doctors and students, and benefit Wales as a whole."

He is also the former academic programme director for the University of Southampton’s neurosurgical training programme

He is a current member of the Society for Neuroscience, the Society of British Neurological Surgeons and the UK chapter of the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE).

His major research interests lie in adult neural stem cell biology and brain injury.

Related Links:

School of Medicine

School of Biosciences

Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board

Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute