BRC’s New Scientific Director
On behalf of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr David Anderson announced the appointment of Dr. James Fawcett as the scientific director of the Brain Repair Centre, for a three-year term, effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Fawcett, who is a professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Surgery here at Dalhousie, completed his PhD in neuroscience at McGill University and postdoctoral training at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute. He lectured at both McMaster and Redeemer Universities before joining the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie in 2006. From 2006-2016 he held a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Brain Repair, and has been recognized with numerous honours, including an EJLB Foundation Scholar award, a Barbara Turnbull Award for Spinal Cord Research and the Excellence in Research Mentorship Award from Dalhousie.
Dr. Fawcett’s research explores how the brain and nervous system develop and function, with a focus on how cells organize themselves and communicate. His discoveries have helped scientists better understand conditions like anxiety, memory loss, and movement disorders. He has published extensively in high-impact journals and is also known for his commitment to mentoring, with many of his trainees advancing to successful careers in science, medicine, and biotechnology.
Dr. Fawcett has served on numerous advisory committees related to neuroscience and biomedical research at both the provincial and national levels, where his contributions have helped shape research priorities and foster collaboration across institutions.
The Brain Repair Centre (BRC) is a multidisciplinary research institute affiliated with Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health, and the IWK Health Centre. It is dedicated to advancing innovative treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, stroke, and depression. As scientific director, Dr. Fawcett will lead the BRC’s strategic development, champion brain repair research and education, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and oversee the BRC’s operations, partnerships, and commercialization initiatives.
In announcing Dr. Fawcett’s appointment, Dr Anderson also sincerely thanked Dr. Victor Rafuse for his outstanding leadership as scientific director of the BRC over the past 12 years, saying his dedication and vision have been instrumental in shaping the BRC’s success and reputation.