Wikipedia

Robert Gerlai

Robert T. Gerlai
Robert Gerlai, August 2009
Born1960 (age 64–65)
Budapest, Hungary
CitizenshipCanadian
Alma materEötvös Loránd University
Scientific career
FieldsBehavior genetics
InstitutionsUniversity of Toronto
Doctoral advisorVilmos Csanyi
Websitehttps://www.utm.utoronto.ca/gerlai-lab/home

Robert T. Gerlai is a Canadian behaviour geneticist and behavioural neuroscientist.

Early life and education

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Gerlai obtained his PhD in 1987 from the Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.[citation needed]

Career

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Gerlai has worked in the biotechnology (Genentech) and biopharmaceutical research industries (Eli Lilly and Company and Saegis Pharmaceuticals) as Senior Scientist and Vice President of Research, and led pre-clinical as well as clinical research teams developing drugs to treat mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. He also worked at different universities in North America and Europe. He is a Distinguished Professor of behavioral neuroscience at the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto.[1]

The Web of Science lists over 350 peer-reviewed publications for Gerlai, which have been cited over 19500 times, resulting in an h-index of 72.[2] According to Google Scholar his works have been cited over 26,000 times, giving him an h-index of 84.[3] Gerlai has worked with several different animal species, including paradise fish and mice. He was among the first to use transgenic mice in the analysis of learning and memory[citation needed] and showed that astrocytes play important roles in synaptic plasticity. He is also known for discovering the role of Eph tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands in neuronal plasticity.[citation needed] He is considered a leader[citation needed] of zebrafish behavioral neuroscience research, and has been using this species, and studies the effects of alcohol on brain function and behaviour, including social behaviour, fear-anxiety, and learning and memory.[1][4]

Honours

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Gerlai is an elected Fellow of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, of which he also has been president.[5] He is editor-in-chief of Behavioral and Brain Functions.[6] He is editor of the book series Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.[7] He is a member of the editorial boards of Biology,[8] Genes, Brain and Behavior,[9] Neurotoxicology and Teratology,[10] Learning and Behavior,[11] Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Zebrafish, and F1000. He is section editor for behavioral neuroscience of BMC Neuroscience.[12] In 2013, Gerlai received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.[13] In 2015, he received the Research Excellence Award from the University of Toronto.[14] In 2019 he received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society.[15] In 2019 and again in 2024, he received the 5-year John Carlin Roder Distinguished Professorship in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Toronto Mississauga.[16][17] In 2023, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Science.[18] In 2024, he received the IQ Consortium/AAALAC International Global 3Rs Award for his significant and innovative contributions to ethical and humane use of animals in research.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gerlai Laboratory @ The University of Toronto, Mississauga". Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. ^ Science Citation Index Expanded (Science ed.). Clarivate. 2023-12-01 – via Web of Science.
  3. ^ "Robert Gerlai". Google Scholar. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  4. ^ Wilkes, Jim (6 February 2011). "Drunk fish may hold secrets to alcoholism in humans". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  5. ^ "Past Presidents". International Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  6. ^ "Behavioral and Brain Functions". BioMed Central. Springer-Nature. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology". Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  8. ^ "Editorial Board". Biology. MDPI. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  9. ^ "Journal Information". Genes, Brain and Behavior. doi:10.1111/(ISSN)1601-183X.
  10. ^ "Editorial Board". Neurotoxicology and Teratology. Elsevier. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  11. ^ "Editorial board". Learning & Behavior. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  12. ^ "Section Editors". BMC Neuroscience. BioMed Central. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  13. ^ "IBANGS Awards". International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  14. ^ "Desmond Morton Research Excellence Award - Research". University of Toronto Mississauga. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Awards". www.ibnsconnect.org. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society.
  16. ^ "Distinguished Professors". Division of the Vice-President & Provost. University of Toronto Mississauga.
  17. ^ "U of T Distinguished Professor Awards | Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean". University of Toronto. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  18. ^ "Robert Gerlai". Find Members. The Royal Society of Canada. 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  19. ^ "IQ Consortium/AAALAC International Global 3Rs Award".
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