معرفی
Gaynor Spencer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock University, affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. Her research focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, neuronal regeneration, and the role of retinoic acid in learning and memory. She utilizes the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis as a model organism to study growth cone guidance, operant conditioning, and retinoid signaling pathways.
Education: BSc (Hons) in Physiology from the University of Leeds (1990), PhD in Physiology from the University of Leeds (1993).
Research Interests: Dr. Spencer’s work spans two core areas: (1) studying interactions between regenerating neurons in culture and (2) investigating cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. Her lab explores retinoic acid’s dual roles in guiding neurite regeneration and modulating long-term memory formation. Recent studies highlight retinoic acid’s effects on voltage-gated calcium channels and microRNA regulation during neural regeneration.
Publications: Over 25 peer-reviewed articles since 2016, including work on retinoid receptor signaling, microRNA roles in regeneration, and environmental influences on memory. Themes include cross-species retinoid mechanisms, electrophysiological impacts of retinoic acid, and neural plasticity.
Awards: 2018 Distinguished Research Award from Brock University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Science.
Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate students in thesis defenses (e.g., Hamed Bakhshi, Paul Respicio). Collaborations include projects with Dr. R. Carlone and interdisciplinary teams. Research focuses on lab-based studies of neural circuits and regeneration in molluscs, with emphasis on retinoid signaling pathways.
Labs & Teams: Active in Brock University’s Biological Sciences labs, focusing on Lymnaea models and molecular neurobiology. Engages in collaborative projects on retinoid biology across species.
