Professor Ciaran Regan received his B.Sc. (1st class hons and first in class; 1973), Ph.D. (1976) and D.Sc. (1992) from University College Dublin. From 1976-1978 he was an EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Nijmegen and MRC Scientific Officer at the Institute of Neurology in London from 1978-1980. He returned to University College Dublin in 1980 where, presently, he is Professor of Neuropharmacology. He has published over 100 papers in international peer-reviewed journals in his main area of research that relates to understanding mechanisms of structural change that contribute to the formation of long-term memory and their exploitation as novel drug targets. He is overall co-ordinator of the Applied Neurotherapeutic Research Group, a collaborative research initiative funded jointly by Science Foundation Ireland and Wyeth Discovery, NJ. His work has been recognised by the award of several honours including the Conway Medal of Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland and the  Royal Irish Academy Medal for achievement in Pharmacology and Toxicology. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science and a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and editorial board member for Journal of Neuroscience Research. His contributions to popularising science include a single-author text for the general reader, Intoxicating Minds, on the role of mind-altering drugs in society.