Professor Emeritus Louise Nicholson, of Snells Beach, CNZM, for services to neuroscience and education
Professor Emeritus Louise Nicholson is a neuroscientist who has contributed to the molecular-level understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
She held numerous academic and committee roles at the University of Auckland and co-founded a Spinal Cord Injury Research Facility within the University’s Centre for Brain Research.
On her retirement, she and her husband gifted $1 million for spinal cord injury research.
She has written numerous publications and presented nationally and internationally. She has been a Council Member on the International Basal Ganglia Society and the Australasian Neuroscience Society.
She pioneered the New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge and taught Biomedical Science at the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum.
Professor Nicholson is a trust member of the Oakley Foundation and the Catwalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust.