Travis Craddock

Dr. Travis Craddock is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo and the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Quantum Neurobiology. Craddock seeks to understand the basic underlying physical and molecular processes of neuroinflammation to improve diagnosis and identify novel treatment strategies for neuroinflammatory illnesses including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Neuroinflammation is the inflammatory response within the brain or spinal cord. It is mediated by molecular signals such as changes in reactive oxygen species or metal ion imbalances. These signals activate the brain’s immune cells, microglia and astrocytes, and affect neuron function. Acutely it may be neuroprotective by activating immune cells, while chronically it can be neurotoxic leading to tissue damage depending on the context and duration of the initial insult. The goal of his research is to fundamentally understand the damage processes of neuroinflammation and translate this fundamental knowledge towards developing novel alternative therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

Craddock’s research focuses on understanding whether biology takes advantage of quantum level processes to give it an advantage, alongside developing a fundamental understanding of the uniqueness of life and biology. His work is also application‑driven, aiming to leverage those processes to come up with new ways to detect, diagnose and treat neuroinflammatory illnesses, including neurodegenerative and mental health conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, that have been identified as one of the most serious health issues facing society today. By modeling sub-neural structures in the brain to advance knowledge and develop new approaches to diagnosing and treating illnesses, he aims to improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide.

• Cellular information processes, and molecular neuroscience

• Biophysics of neurological/neurodegenerative diseases

• Systems neurobiology

• Quantum neurobiological mechanisms of neuroinflammation

• 2012, PhD Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB Canada

• 2008, MSc Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB Canada

• 2002, BSc Physics (Co-op), University of Guelph, Guelph ON Canada

• 2025, Accelerating Quantum Biology Research in Parkinson’s Disease to Improve Treatments and Diagnostics, Gateway Institute for Brain Research

• 2025, Understanding the basic biophysical mechanisms by which neuroinflammation leads to neurodegeneration, Canadian Foundation for Innovation - John R. Evans Leaders Fund

• 2024, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Quantum Neurobiology, Government of Canada

• Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal: Quantum Biology & Biophotonics Associate Editor

• University of Waterloo Indigenous Faculty Council Member

• Faculty of Science NSERC/CIHR CRC Tier 1 Search Committee Member

• Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience Special Topic Co-editor (Quantum Communication in Neuronal Networks)

• Frontiers in Systems Associate Editor

• Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program, Neuroscience Panel, Scientific Reviewer

• 2021 – Present, Academic Drug Discovery Consortium (Member)

• 2015 – Present, Complex Systems Society

• 2017 – Present, American Physical Society (Member)

• Science Faculty Council, University of Waterloo (Member)

• Indigenous Faculty Council, University of Waterloo

• BIOL 376 - Cellular Neurophysiology
  • Taught in 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• For the full list of Travis Craddock's publications, please see Google Scholar.

• Zadeh-Haghighi H, Siguenza CR, Smith RP, Simon C, Craddock TJ. (2026) Tubulin polymerization dynamics are influenced by magnetic isotope effects consistent with the radical pair mechanism. Science Advances.;12(7):eady8317. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ady8317

• Gassab L, Craddock TJ. (2026) Optical properties of the cytoskeleton: a review of light–matter interactions, quantum effects, and biological implications. Journal of Physics: Photonics.;8(1):012006. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7647/ae3ee8

• Gassab L, Pusuluk O, Craddock TJ. (2026) Quantum Information Flow in Microtubule Tryptophan Networks. Entropy.;28(2):204. https://doi.org/10.3390/e28020204

• Craddock TJ. (2025) Quantum mechanisms in the brain: from conjectures and theories to experimental evidence. InQuantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics II (Vol. 13340, p. 1334003). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3043206

• Craddock TJ. (2026) Weak magnetic effects in the brain. InQuantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics III (Vol. 13872, pp. 68-72). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3082189