David Lyons received his B.Sc. (Neuroscience, 1999) and Ph.D. (Developmental Biology, 2003) from University College London. He then undertook postdoctoral work at Stanford University in the Department of Developmental Biology with Prof. William Talbot (2004-2009). In 2009, Dr. Lyons joined the Centre for Neuroregeneration through a BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship. Dr Lyons was awarded a Research Prize from the Lister Institute in 2012 and a Senior Research Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust in 2014. Dr. Lyons was promoted to Chair of Neurobiology in 2015.

We use zebrafish to study nervous system formation, function and repair.

Our current focus is on myelinated axons, which are essential for a healthy nervous system. Disruption to myelin or associated axons contributes to many diseases including Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Zebrafish embryos are transparent and together with fluorescent reporters that label specific cell types we can visualise biological events as they occur in the living animal.

We also use zebrafish to carry out genetic analyses of myelinated axon formation and function. In parallel we are undertaking drug discovery projects to help identify potential treatments for diseases of myelinated axons.

I contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the School of Biomedical Sciences.

In addition to serving as personal tutor for Medical Sciences undergraduate students, I act as a reserach project supervisor, teach or serve as a tutor on the following courses.

Undergraduate

Year 3

Biomedical Sciences 3

Year 4

Honours core programmes

Honours Neuroscience

Honours electives

Developmental and Clinical Neuroscience

Postgraduate (MSc)

MSc by Research Integrative Neuroscience