Jason Gallivan honoured with Basmajian Award

Feature Stories | 05 Dec 2024

Dr. Jason Gallivan is the recipient of the 2024 Mihran and Mary Basmajian Award for Excellence in Health Research.

Established by Dr. J.V. Basmajian in memory of his parents, the Basmajian Award is granted annually to Queen’s Health Sciences’ (QHS) faculty who have made an outstanding contribution to health research. Dr. Gallivan is being celebrated for his research excellence in systems neuroscience, his track record on collaborative research, and his achievements advancing neuroimaging at Queen’s.

Dr. Gallivan is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and is the Director of the Queen’s MRI Facility. He has built a notable reputation in systems neuroscience, emphasizing sensory processing and motor control. His research aims to unravel the neural circuits involved in selecting, planning, and controlling goal-directed actions, utilizing various innovative techniques, including functional and structural brain imaging, computational modelling, and virtual reality systems.

Since joining Queen’s University, Dr. Gallivan has demonstrated exceptional leadership and research capabilities. He has secured multiple grants from federal and provincial sources, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) and Early Researcher Award (ERA). Dr. Gallivan’s work has appeared in journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences, and eLife.

His contributions have also played a pivotal role in advancing Queen’s neuroimaging capabilities. As the Director of the Queen’s MRI Facility, he has acquired cutting-edge neuroimaging equipment and establishing collaborative research initiatives. His recent efforts include launching a groundbreaking study on the impact of social environments on neurobiology at the university's non-human primate facility.

Dr. Gallivan's commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists is evident through his support of students and trainees in the Memory, Action and Perception Laboratory (MAPlab). His research not only advances our understanding of cognition and behavior but also has potential clinical applications for conditions such as stroke and anesthesia.

In the words of one of his nominators, “Jason is a rising star in the fields of systems and cognitive neuroscience... his reputation for excellence is reflected in his growing list of invited talks, awards, and media interviews.”

For more information about Dr. Gallivan and his research, visit the MAPlab website.

Jason Gallivan honoured with Basmajian Award

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