Researcher Profile: Dr. William Baldridge
Dr. William Baldridge is a Professor at Dalhousie University as well as the Head of the Medical Neuroscience department, with a joint appointment in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. He has played an active role in the Brain Repair Centre for many years, initially participating in research days and poster sessions and, more recently, has been a member of the executive committee.
Dr. Baldridge sees the BRC as an umbrella organization that brings the neuroscience family together. “Neuroscience is a diverse subject area and the greatest benefit of the BRC is that it provides the opportunity for the different elements of brain research to come together,” says Dr. Baldridge. The four clusters that the BRC focuses on are traumatic brain injury, neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration and mobility restoration. The BRC also encourages collaboration in research.
Dr. Baldridge is a member of Dalhousie University’s Retina and Optic Nerve Research Lab. His main research area of focus is on retinal circuitry, and is working to develop techniques that lead to better imaging of the retina. Currently, in collaboration with Dr. Balwantray Chauhan, he is using 2-photon microscopy to image the retina in living animals, and it is hoped this will eventually lead to novel approaches to detect glaucoma in humans, which is a leading cause of blindness.
As a busy department head, a typical day can include a lot of desk work, however, the high point of his work is when he spends time in the lab. “Working with others is really the best part of any day, especially being alongside trainees who are the lifeblood of the whole research operation,” says Baldridge.
When speaking with Dr. Baldrige, it’s obvious that his leadership strength comes from his humble and kind personality, always crediting those around him, “I’m so fortunate to have worked with so many great students who have gone on to amazing careers; the quality of the students I have worked with, and the product of those interactions is what I am most proud of.”
When Dr. Baldridge isn’t busy with running the department or doing lab work, he keeps busy with his musical talents. Dr. Baldridge, a talented and accomplished trumpeter, played with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra for many years, as well as Dalhousie’s Tupper Band.
Dr. Baldridge has received funding from multiple sources throughout the years, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Researcher (CIHR). Funding received from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), with Dr. Chauhan, helped kickstart the research to image the retina in the living eye.
Dr. Baldridge’s advice to anyone entering the neuroscience research field is to make sure you are passionate about it and to seek answers to most important questions.
You can also read about one of Dr Baldridge’s past trainees - Dr. Tareq Yousef - at Our Trainees page.