Professor
University of Melbourne
Director
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Parkville (VIC), Australia
Prof Trevor Kilpatrick | MBBS PhD FRACP | Professor of Neurology, University of Melbourne | Director and Head of MS Division, Florey Institute | Clinical Neurologist and Founder MS Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Trevor leads a group of scientists focused on the molecular and cellular neuroscience of myelination, demyelinating disease and neural regeneration, as well as the aetiology and pathogenesis of MS. His experience leading translational projects that involve deep collaborative interactions between biologists, molecular geneticists, imaging scientists, clinical researchers, epidemiologists and bioinformaticians means he can provide valuable oversight for proposed research. His key career achievements include cloning of mammalian neural precursors and the discovery of neurotrophic factors for myelinating cells that are damaged by MS. He also co-founded the Ausimmune Consortium which has since evolved into a pre-eminent national and international resource that has advanced our understanding of the epidemiology of MS – clarifying the contributions of inadequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D deficiency, smoking, obesity and the Epstein-Barr virus to disease activity. He was also a founder of the ANZgene Consortium, which has transformed our understanding of genetic contributions to MS, with over 200 susceptibility loci now identified.