A great mind focuses on dementia

Feb 11 2008

One of the world's leading researchers in dementia, Professor John Hodges, has taken up an appointment with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (POWMRI).

Professor Hodges is a clinical neuroscientist and until last month was Professor of Behavioural Neurology at Cambridge University.

Professor Hodges has proposed an innovative research program that will substantially advance Australia’s fundamental knowledge of cognitive processes. The program focuses on patients with frontotemporal dementia and has a strong translational component through the development of improved methods for rehabilitation and health outcomes in patients.

He also hopes to develop effective tools for the assessment of patients with disorders affecting fundamental aspects of memory, language and social cognition.

Professor Hodges was attracted to the position by a prestigious Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship and has been appointed Professor of Cognitive Neurology.

"I warmly welcome such an eminent scientist as Professor Hodges to the UNSW research community,” said UNSW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Les Field. “This cements our reputation in the emerging field of Brain Sciences.”