Louise Frances Basford Nicholson CNZM (nee Green) is a New Zealand neuroscientist, and is professor emerita at the University of Auckland, specialising in molecular mechanisms common to neurodegenerative diseases. In 2021, Nicholson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neuroscience and education.
Louise Nicholson | |
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| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Rhodes Visiting Fellowship |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland, University of Auckland, Epsom Girls' Grammar School |
| Theses | |
| Doctoral advisor | Patricia Bergquist, John Sidney Bullivant |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Auckland |
Academic career
editNicholson attended Epsom Girls Grammar School.[1] She completed a Masters and then a PhD titled Structure and function of the Malpighian tubules of the larva of the New Zealand glow-worm Arachnocampa luminosa (Skuse) at the University of Auckland.[2][3][4] Nicholson spent two and half years as a visiting fellow at Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford, and then returned to New Zealand, where she taught science at Mahurangi College from 1981 to 1988.[5] Nicholson then joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy with Radiology at the University of Auckland, initially as a senior lecturer.[5] She was Head of Biology for Medicine in 1989.[6] Nicholson worked on neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease, Huntington's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.[6] She was appointed full professor in 2009, and worked at the university for nearly 30 years, during which she spent a year at the Salk Institute.[7][5]
With Simon O'Carroll and Colin Green, Nicholson founded the Spinal Cord Research Facility within the university's Centre for Brain Research.[8] The facility is funded by the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust.[8]
In 2014, after years of severe headaches, Nicholson was diagnosed with a brain tumour, leading her to retire from research. On her retirement, she was appointed professor emerita, and she and her husband gifted $1 million towards spinal injury research.[7]
Honours and awards
editNicholson was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1978 to attend Lady Margaret Hall as a Visiting Fellow for two years. Only 32 Rhodes Visiting Fellowships were awarded.[9]
In the New Years Honours for 2021, Nicholson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neuroscience and education.[6]
Selected works
edit
- Helen V Danesh-Meyer; Nathan M Kerr; Jie Zhang; Elizabeth K Eady; Simon J O'Carroll; Louise F B Nicholson; Cameron S Johnson; Colin Green (1 February 2012). "Connexin43 mimetic peptide reduces vascular leak and retinal ganglion cell death following retinal ischaemia". Brain. 135 (Pt 2): 506–520. doi:10.1093/BRAIN/AWR338. ISSN 0006-8950. PMID 22345088. Wikidata Q48654177.
- Carissa G Fonseca; Colin Green; Louise Nicholson (1 March 2002). "Upregulation in astrocytic connexin 43 gap junction levels may exacerbate generalized seizures in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy". Brain Research. 929 (1): 105–116. doi:10.1016/S0006-8993(01)03289-9. ISSN 0006-8993. PMID 11852037. Wikidata Q31039156.
- Joanne O Davidson; Colin Green; Louise F B Nicholson; Simon J O'Carroll; Mhoyra Fraser; Laura Bennet; Alistair Gunn (1 January 2012). "Connexin hemichannel blockade improves outcomes in a model of fetal ischemia". Annals of Neurology. 71 (1): 121–132. doi:10.1002/ANA.22654. ISSN 0364-5134. PMID 22275258. Wikidata Q42633519.
- Simon J O'Carroll; Mamoun Alkadhi; Louise Frances Basford Nicholson; Colin Green (1 May 2008). "Connexin 43 mimetic peptides reduce swelling, astrogliosis, and neuronal cell death after spinal cord injury". Cell Communication & Adhesion. 15 (1): 27–42. doi:10.1080/15419060802014164. ISSN 1541-9061. PMID 18649176. Wikidata Q46467494.
- Lian Wu; Li Ma; Louise F B Nicholson; Peter N Black (26 November 2010). "Advanced glycation end products and its receptor (RAGE) are increased in patients with COPD". Respiratory Medicine. 105 (3): 329–336. doi:10.1016/J.RMED.2010.11.001. ISSN 0954-6111. PMID 21112201. Wikidata Q34152095.
- Louise Nicholson; Gunisha K Singh; Thomas Osterwalder; Gregg Roman; Ronald L Davis; Haig Keshishian (1 January 2008). "Spatial and temporal control of gene expression in Drosophila using the inducible GeneSwitch GAL4 system. I. Screen for larval nervous system drivers". Genetics. 178 (1): 215–234. doi:10.1534/GENETICS.107.081968. ISSN 0016-6731. PMC 2206072. PMID 18202369. Wikidata Q36391801.
References
edit- ^ "Professor Louise Nicholson (Green)" (PDF). Epsom Girls Grammar School Old Girls Association. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Green, Louise Frances Basford (1974). The structure and function of the hind-gut of the nymph of the dragonfly, Uropetala carovei (White) (Master's thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland.
- ^ Green, Louise Frances Basford (1978). Structure and function of the Malpighian tubules of the larva of the New Zealand glow-worm Arachnocampa luminosa (Skuse) (PhD thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland.
- ^ "Academic profile: Emeritus Professor Louise Nicholson". profiles.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Matters, Local (31 December 2007). "Local Folk – Louise Nicholson". Local Matters. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "New Year Honours 2021 – Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Professor's $1m farewell gift to uni". NZ Herald. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Spinal Cord Injury Research Facility – The University of Auckland". www.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Rhodes Scholar Database". Rhodes Trust. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
External links
edit- Never say never, story on Louise Nicholson on TVNZ's Sunday, 2018, via Facebook