Acting Chief Executive, British Neuroscience Association

Dr Ian Varndell began his research career in Marine Biology, focusing his doctoral research on the neuroanatomy of littoral nemerteans - a group of worms with cerebral ganglia containing neuroglobins. He went on to work in the A.G.E Pearse lab and the then Royal Postgraduate Medical School (now part of Imperial College.) He was appointed non-clinical lecturer in Histochemistry of the School in 1983.

In 1986 he moved to Cambridge to set up the Immunology group at Cambridge Research Biochemicals, and in 1991 left to for AFFINITI Research Products Ltd – a ‘one-stop shop’ for neuroscience products and services.

He joined the Brain Research Association, the forerunner of the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) and went on to hold the positions on the BNA committee a Corporate Representative and Treasurer, before becoming a Founding Director of BNA Limited.

His background as a neuroscientist, company director and passionate supporter of the BNA led to his part-time appointment as Acting Chief Executive in April 2011. A role in which he assists with the development of the BNA as the voice of British neuroscience and is involved in strategic planning and developing initiatives for membership growth, public awareness and influencing governmental attitudes to science funding.

His current research themes include

• Neurodegenerative disease
• Neuroscience policy and public engagement
• Invertebrate nervous system