James Bloedel

 

James Bloedel

Professor

Department of Kinesiology and Department of Biomedical Sciences

 

Career Achievement in Research Award

 

Jim Bloedel is a brilliant neuroscientist who has made great advancements in our understanding of the brain and its relationship to motor control and learning. He has pioneered new techniques, challenged previous views, and established broadly-accepted new hypotheses about the cerebellum’s role in controlling the body.

He was the first demonstrate that people with cerebellar dysfunction are capable of learning at the same rate as normal patients. Through pioneering use of electrophysiology, he also uncovered fundamental neurochemical circuitries of the cerebellum that are responsible for motor coordination and memory function. He is an outstanding role model for all researchers.

With more than 130 abstracts and more than 100 papers published for leading journals like Nature, Science, Journal of Neurophysiology and the Journal of Neuroscience, he is an important and respected member of international scientific community. His work spanning more than 35 years has received continual funding from the National Institutes of Health. He has served in NIH review panels consistently since 1976.

Through excellent mentorship and teaching, he has helped to develop a number of notable scientific scholars. Among his mentees are Andrew Schwartz, famous for designing robotic arms that are controlled by brain cells; Jerry Vitek, an expert on the use of deep brain stimulation to treat Parkin’s disease; and many others recognized for working on the cutting edge of science. Twelve of his doctoral students or postdoctoral fellows have gone on to become professors. Another is directing a neural engineering research program.

This award was presented during the winter social for faculty and staff on Thursday, Dec 6.