Professor Alan Harvey

Professor Alan Harvey began his scientific career at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Years later, he completed his PhD in visual neurophysiology at the Australian National University, Canberra. After spending time in the USA and at Flinders University in Adelaide, he came to The University of Western Australia (UWA) in 1984.

During his time at UWA, Professor Harvey has also enjoyed many Honorary Appointments, as Visiting Scientist or Visiting Research Fellow, at leading neuroscience laboratories around the world. He was promoted to Professor of Anatomy & Human Biology in 2001, and is a Board Member of both the Neurological Council of WA and WA Neurosciences (WANS).

Professor Harvey is a member of the Editorial Board for several Medical Journals and an ad-hoc reviewer for many journals and research granting bodies, including the National Health and Medical Research Council. In 2005 he was a Member of the Australian Research Council's commissioned Panel of Scientific Experts that reviewed the Australian Stem Cell Centre. During 2006-2008 he led the Foundational Research Program for the WA Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care. He is also a Member of the International Scientific Committee for Spinal Cure Australia.

Undoubtedly one of the world's leading scientists in the field of neural regeneration, Professor Harvey focuses in particular on the spinal cord and the visual system. His current NRP projects involve examining the role of olfactory ensheathing glia in the central nervous system; developing gene therapy techniques to promote regeneration after Neurotrauma; and testing the effects of long-term introduction of growth-promoting genes in the nervous system.

Current NRP (Chief) Co-investigators:
Prof Don Robertson, Dr Kathy Heel, Dr Giles Plant, Dr Jenny Rodger, UWA