Timothy O’Connor

Timothy O'Connor serves as Professor in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine. He holds concurrent appointments as Member of the Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, Member of iCORD (Collaborations on Repair Discoveries), Associate Member of the Department of Zoology, and Member of the Program in Neuroscience.

His academic credentials include a BSc and PhD from the University of Toronto, establishing his foundation in cellular and developmental neuroscience.

Dr. O'Connor's research centers on semaphorin-mediated axon guidance mechanisms in neural development, with particular emphasis on Semaphorin 5B's dual roles as repellent cue and synapse regulator. His laboratory employs advanced in vitro models including PC12 cell systems to investigate growth cone dynamics, neurite consolidation, and proteolytic processing of guidance molecules. Key methodologies span molecular assays, live-cell imaging, and functional characterization of neuronal morphogenesis pathways.

Analysis of his 2009-2015 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on repulsive guidance cues in spinal cord innervation, corticofugal pathfinding, and hippocampal circuit refinement. His work consistently bridges molecular mechanisms (e.g., Sema5B proteolysis) with functional outcomes in neural circuit assembly, demonstrating how guidance molecules orchestrate sensory afferent projection and synapse elimination.

The O'Connor Lab actively recruits highly motivated graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, requiring competitive academic records and research experience. Candidates are expected to pursue external funding through studentships and fellowships to support their work in developmental neurobiology.

As part of UBC's Centre for Brain Health ecosystem, the lab maintains strong collaborative ties with iCORD on neural repair initiatives while advancing fundamental understanding of axon guidance principles applicable to regenerative medicine.