Rate My Professor Ryan Anderton

Associate Professor Ryan Anderton is the Discipline Lead of Biomedical Science and Deputy Head of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle campus. He earned a Bachelor of Forensics, a Bachelor of Science with Honours, and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Western Australia. Following his doctoral studies, Anderton has amassed significant experience in tertiary education, academic leadership, and biomedical research. In his leadership roles, he oversees the Biomedical Science discipline and contributes to the strategic direction of the School of Health Sciences. Anderton teaches a range of subjects including anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, human genetics, and research skills and data analysis. His pedagogical approach supports students in developing foundational knowledge and analytical abilities essential for health sciences careers.

Anderton's research centers on neurodegeneration and the contribution of the gut to neurological disease and function, with a strong focus on the gut-brain axis in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. He leads a multi-disciplinary research team investigating these critical areas. Key publications include book chapters such as 'The role of the gastrointestinal system and gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease' (Kenna & Anderton, 2020, in Genetics, Neurology, Behavior, and Diet in Parkinson's Disease) and 'Clinically assessing cognitive function in Parkinson's disease' (Bakeberg et al., 2020, in Diagnosis and Management in Parkinson's Disease). Prominent journal articles feature 'Quality of life implications for elevated trait impulsivity in people with Parkinson’s disease' (Jeyadevan et al., 2023, Quality of Life Research), 'Poly-arginine R18 peptide inhibits heat-induced lysozyme protein aggregation: Implications for a possible therapeutic role in Parkinson’s disease' (Spencer et al., 2023, Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology), 'The role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in long-term neurodegenerative processes following traumatic brain injury' (Chiu & Anderton, 2022, European Journal of Neuroscience), 'Impact of Gastrointestinal Symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life in an Australian Parkinson’s Disease Cohort' (Kenna et al., 2022, Parkinson’s Disease), 'Changes in the gut microbiome and predicted functional metabolic effects in an Australian Parkinson's disease cohort' (Kenna et al., 2021, Frontiers in Neuroscience), and 'Characterization of gastrointestinal symptom type and severity in Parkinson's disease: a case–control study in an Australian cohort' (Kenna et al., 2021, Movement Disorders Clinical Practice). Additional works address genetic variants in ALS and musculoskeletal injuries. Through these contributions, Anderton advances understanding of gut-related mechanisms in neurodegeneration.