معرفی
Alastair Victor Ferguson is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University, affiliated with the School of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences. His research focuses on the central nervous system's role in autonomic processing, particularly hypertension and obesity. He holds cross appointments at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies and the Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME).
Dr. Ferguson's education includes a BSc in Biological Sciences (Birmingham University) and a PhD in Neurosciences (University of Calgary). His work integrates multidisciplinary approaches to study autonomic control centers, leveraging electrophysiology and molecular tools. His lab investigates how central circuits regulate critical physiological variables like blood pressure, glucose, and sodium levels.
Key research areas include adipokine signaling (e.g., adiponectin, leptin), hydrogen sulfide's cardiovascular effects, and neuronal responses to metabolic signals. He collaborates with institutions like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and NIH. Notable trainees include researchers studying CCK, nesfatin-1, and BDNF in autonomic nuclei.
Funding sources include CIHR, Heart and Stroke Foundation, and NIH grants. His lab's recent work explores hydrogen sulfide's role in blood pressure regulation and the subfornical organ's role in metabolic signaling.
He advises PhD and MSc students on topics like SFO neuron electrophysiology and PVN function. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational medicine, emphasizing autonomic dysfunction in chronic diseases.
