Willem Wildering

Willem Wildering is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Science, and a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. He holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences (University of Groningen, 1982), an M.S. in Pharmacology and Behavioral Physiology (University of Groningen, 1986), and a Ph.D. in Physiology/Neurobiology (Free University of Amsterdam, 1992).

His research focuses on

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal aging and neurodegeneration,
• Neurotoxicology of aquatic pollutants,
• Neuronal plasticity and memory impairment in aging models.

He uses gastropod models like Lymnaea stagnalis to investigate aging-related changes in neuronal excitability, redox balance, and synaptic function.

Wildering’s publications (15 most recent highlighted) span mechanisms of axonal regeneration, neuroinflammation, and epigenetic regulation. His work bridges molecular neurobiology with behavioral studies, emphasizing translational relevance to human neurodegenerative diseases.

He teaches ZOOL 595: Evolutionary Perspectives in Neurobiology and collaborates on projects exploring neurotrophic factors and environmental toxin impacts. No scientific awards are listed, but his extensive grant-funded research has advanced understanding of nervous system aging.

Wildering’s lab at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute integrates electrophysiology, transcriptomics, and behavioral assays to dissect age-related neural decline. His team studies how environmental pollutants and molecular pathways (e.g., PLA2, EGF) influence nervous system resilience across lifespans.