Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Professor Norman Saunders is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine at Monash University. Professor Saunders has a distinguished career working on the blood-brain barrier and on neural responses to injury and repair in the central nervous system, at University College London and more recently in Australia. Professor Saunders is also the founder of Virtually Sailing Ltd, a not-for-profit charity with the mission to bring sailing to people with disabilities and social disadvantage. From 2002 - 2022, he was a Professorial Fellow in Neuroscience in the Department of Pharmacology & Centre for Neuroscience at The University of Melbourne.
Since moving to Melbourne in 2002, Professor Saunders has achieved grant income of $12,496,995 from NIH, EU-FP7, NHMRC, and the Transport Accident Commission.
Professor Saunders has been engaged in media, ABC Science Show, ABC Occam’s Razor, The Conversation, numerous media interviews on paracetamol toxicity, Sailing for people with disabilities and disadvantage: Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Docklands YC, Laverton College, Berry Street School, Shepparton.
Research interests
Internal environment of the developing brain: brain barrier & exchange mechanisms in relation to brain development. Brain barrier involvement in neurotoxicology of embryo, fetus and newborn. Mechanisms protecting fetal and neonatal brain from drugs administered to pregnant women and neonates. Collaboration with colleagues in STM Monash University, The Australian National Nuclear Research and Development Organisation (ANSTO), Stanford University Neonatology, University of Copenhagen, INSERM Lyon, Royal Veterinary College, London, & St Thomas’s Hospital Neonatal Unit.
Design and development of real-time physical simulators for training, fitness and evaluation of performance in the able-bodied, and people with disabilities and social disadvantage (see www.virtualsailing.com.au). Clinical trials currently underway in spinal units in Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, University of Murcia, East Carolina University and Melbourne. Also working with centres in Sandsuky SC OH to promote sailing for a range of disability and social disadvantage. Simulator in Auckland used for wide range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and stroke. Recent support from Rotary to run programmes for students from lower socioeconomic areas of Victoria. New programs starting in Swinburne University, University of Tasmania and University of Cagliari, Italy.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD
… → 1965
External positions
Head, Developmental Neurobiology & Neurotrauma Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne
2022 → …
University Associate, College of Health & Medicine, University of Tasmania
2022 → …
Founder Virtually Sailing Ltd
2021 → …
Honorary Professorial Fellow in Neuroscience, University of Melbourne
2020 → …
Research area keywords
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- brain disorders
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Regional distribution of antiepileptic drugs in the developing brain during pregnancy and early postnatal period
Qiu, F. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Saunders, N. (Supervisor) & Jones, N. (Supervisor)
7/07/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Effects of paracetamol/acetaminophen on the expression of solute carriers (SLCs) in late-gestation fetal rat brain, choroid plexus and the placenta
Huang, Y., Qiu, F., Dziegielewska, K. M., Koehn, L. M., Habgood, M. D. & Saunders, N. R., 1 Mar 2024, In: Experimental Physiology. 109, 3, p. 427-444 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Entry of cannabidiol into the fetal, postnatal and adult rat brain
Fitzpatrick, G., Huang, Y., Qiu, F., Habgood, M. D., Medcalf, R. L., Ho, H., Dziegielewska, K. M. & Saunders, N. R., May 2024, In: Cell and Tissue Research. 396, 2, p. 177-195 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Efflux transporters in rat placenta and developing brain: transcriptomic and functional response to paracetamol
Koehn, L. M., Huang, Y., Habgood, M. D., Nie, S., Chiou, S. Y., Banati, R. B., Dziegielewska, K. M. & Saunders, N. R., Dec 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 16 p., 19878.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access10 Citations (Scopus) -
Lithium administered to pregnant, lactating and neonatal rats: entry into developing brain
Chiou, S. Y. S., Kysenius, K., Huang, Y., Habgood, M. D., Koehn, L. M., Qiu, F., Crouch, P. J., Varshney, S., Ganio, K., Dziegielewska, K. M. & Saunders, N. R., 7 Dec 2021, In: Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. 18, 1, 19 p., 57.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access8 Citations (Scopus) -
Transfer of rhodamine-123 into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of fetal, neonatal and adult rats
Koehn, L. M., Dziegielewska, K. M., Habgood, M. D., Huang, Y. & Saunders, N. R., Dec 2021, In: Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. 18, 1, 9 p., 6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Faculty Member F1000 (Neuroscience)
Saunders, Norman (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Fellow, The Physiological Society
Saunders, Norman (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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The Order of Australia in the General Division (AM)
Saunders, Norman (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 9 Committees and working groups
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Member
Norman Saunders (Member)
2011 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Life Fellow
Norman Saunders (Fellow)
2005 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Member
Norman Saunders (Member)
1996 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Member
Norman Saunders (Member)
1993 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Member
Norman Saunders (Member)
1992 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups