Speakers

Naweed Imam Syed

Place of Birth : Lahore, Pakistan
Position : Professor, Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Chief Scientist, Creative Destruction Lab, University of Calgary, Canada
Field of study : Neurophysiology, particularly the cellular, synaptic, and molecular mechanisms of nervous system development and repair. His expertise includes brain-chip interfacing, nerve regeneration, synaptic plasticity, neurodegeneration, and the development of technologies for brain repair and prosthetic devices.

Dr. Naweed Imam Syed is a globally recognized neuroscientist and a Professor in Cell Biology & Anatomy at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. He also serves as the Chief Scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab. His academic journey began with a Master's from the University of Karachi, Pakistan, followed by a Ph.D. in neurophysiology from the University of Leeds, UK. After postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary, he joined the faculty and has since held numerous leadership roles, including Department Head for Cell Biology & Anatomy and Scientific Director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Syed's team was the first to successfully develop a bionic hybrid, enabling direct communication between brain cells and a silicon chip, a breakthrough highlighted in Time Magazine and on the Discovery Channel. He holds multiple patents, co-founded several biomedical engineering companies, and has trained over 64 graduate students and 20 postdoctoral scholars. His extensive contributions have been recognized with over 150 national and international awards, including the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) from the Government of Pakistan.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Medical Physiology, University of Calgary, Canada
• PhD: Neurophysiology, University of Leeds, England, UK
• MSc: Neuromuscular Physiology, University of Karachi, Pakistan
• BSc (Hons): Physiology, University of Karachi, Pakistan

• 2021-Present: Chief Scientist, Creative Destruction Lab, University of Calgary
• 2014-2019: Scientific Director, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• 2012-2016: Director, Eyes High Postdoctoral Program, University of Calgary
• 2008-2013: Special Advisor to the VP (Research) on Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary
• 2004-2014: Department Head, Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
• 2003-Present: Professor, Cell Biology & Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
• 1999-2003: Associate Professor, Cell Biology & Anatomy/Physiology & Biophysics, University of Calgary
• 1991-1999: Assistant Professor, Cell Biology & Anatomy/Physiology & Biophysics, University of Calgary