معرفی
Nils Torben Bech-Hansen is a Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, with additional affiliations as an Associate Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Child Health & Wellness Researcher at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. His work centers on molecular genetics of retinal neurotransmission disorders, particularly congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB).
His educational background includes:
- B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of British Columbia (1968)
- M.S. in Genetic Biology, University of British Columbia (1970)
- Ph.D. in Genetic Biology, University of Saskatchewan (1973)
Dr. Bech-Hansen's research focuses on identifying genetic causes of CSNB, having discovered mutations in CACNA1F (Cav1.4), NYK (nyctalopin), and GRM6 (mGLUR6) genes. His lab developed the Cacna1f-KO mouse model to study synapse formation defects and is investigating gene therapy for vision restoration. Current collaborative work examines genetic risk factors for depression, SIDS, and learning/memory mechanisms.
His scientific recognition includes:
- Roy and Joan Allen Professorship in Sight Research (2004-2007)
- Salary support awards (2009, 2012)
He actively participates in the university's Child Health and Wellness strategic initiative (2020-2025) and maintains key collaborations with Dr. W. Stell (gene therapy), Dr. R. Ramasubbu (depression genetics), Dr. R. Wilson (SIDS research), and Dr. F. Biddle (learning/memory studies in mice).
