Rate My Professor Ryan Anderton

Associate Professor Ryan Anderton serves as Deputy Head of the School of Health Sciences and Discipline Lead of Biomedical Science at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle campus. He earned a Bachelor of Forensics, BSc (Honours) from Murdoch University, and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Western Australia, completing his doctoral studies at the Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute between 2010 and 2013. Since joining Notre Dame in 2012, Anderton has amassed extensive experience in tertiary education, academic leadership, and biomedical research. He leads a multi-disciplinary research team focused on the gut-brain axis in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, with a strong emphasis on Parkinson’s disease, neuroprotection, and non-motor symptoms.

Anderton’s research portfolio includes investigations into the role of the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis, neuroprotective poly-arginine peptides such as R18 and R18D for stroke and neurodegeneration, and genetic factors influencing disease risk and progression. Notable publications encompass book chapters like “The role of the gastrointestinal system and gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease” (2020) and “Clinically assessing cognitive function in Parkinson's disease” (2020), as well as journal articles including “Quality of life implications for elevated trait impulsivity in people with Parkinson’s disease” (2023), “Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated With Gut Homeostasis Influence Risk and Age-at-Onset of Parkinson's Disease” (2020), “The gut-brain axis and gut inflammation in Parkinson’s disease: stopping neurodegeneration at the toll gate” (2020), “Changes in the rodent gut microbiome following chronic restraint stress and low-intensity rTMS” (2022), and “Genetic variants within NOGGIN, COL1A1, COL5A1, and IGF2 are associated with musculoskeletal injuries in elite male Australian Football League players: a preliminary study” (2022). His scholarship has garnered over 2,100 citations across 109 publications, contributing to advancements in understanding neurodegenerative processes and potential therapeutic interventions. Anderton supervises PhD candidates and collaborates with institutions such as the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science.