Pankaj Sah

Pankaj Sah stands as a distinguished neuroscientist serving as Director of the Queensland Brain Institute at The University of Queensland. His academic journey began with medical training at The University of New South Wales, followed by a Ph.D. from the Australian National University and postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco. His groundbreaking research focuses on understanding neural circuits underlying learning and memory formation, particularly in the amygdala and hippocampus. After establishing his laboratory at the University of Newcastle in 1994 and working at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, he joined QBI as a founding member in 2003 and became Director in 2015. Sah's laboratory employs sophisticated techniques including molecular tools, electrophysiology, anatomical reconstruction, calcium imaging, and behavioral studies to examine brain function and disease impacts. His pioneering work has revolutionized understanding of synaptic plasticity and interneuron function in the amygdala, contributing significantly to anxiety disorder research. As Editor-in-Chief of npj Science of Learning, he bridges the gap between neuroscience, psychology, and education research. His contributions include over 110 peer-reviewed publications and recent work with patients undergoing deep brain stimulation for conditions like Parkinson's disease and Tourette's syndrome. His research has fundamentally changed our understanding of central nervous system function and emotional learning processes