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 Research & Giving News Article  NARSAD awarded its first Julius Axelrod Neuroscience Award to the three scientists who shared last year's Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. The award is named for Dr. Axelrod, who received the 1970 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of the actions of neurotransmitters in regulating the metabolism of the nervous system. Dr. Axelrod is currently honorary chairman of NARSAD's Scientific Council. Arvid Emil Carlsson, M.D., of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Paul Greengard, Ph.D., of Rockefeller University; and Eric R. Kandel, M.D., of Columbia University, received the NARSAD Neuroscience Award. The research of these brilliant scientists has focused on the brain and its billions of nerve cells, including groundbreaking studies that have elucidated the mechanisms by which these cells communicate with each other. Their research has contributed tremendously to our knowledge of brain function and has led to the development of new drugs to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases. In addition to the Julius Axelrod Neuroscience Award, NARSAD awarded its annual Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research, the Nola Maddox Falcone Prize for Affective Disorders Research and the Ruane Prize for Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatric Research. Each of these prizes carries a cash award of $50,000. This year, the award for schizophrenia research went to Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., Director of the Department of Neuroscience and Distinguished Service Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Snyder has made significant contributions to the understanding of neurotransmission in the brain. Over the years, he has discovered novel neurotransmitters and numerous receptors, increasing our knowledge of how medications affect the brain. His findings and techniques have helped to accelerate the pace of drug development. The affective disorders research prize was awarded to two outstanding scientists: Hagop S. Akiskal, M.D., and William E. Bunney, Jr., M.D. Dr. Akiskal is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the International Mood Center at the University of California at San Diego. Over the years, Dr. Akiskal has made enduring contributions to the understanding and management of mood disorders, especially bipolar illness. Early in his career, Dr. Akiskal conducted the definitive clinical and sleep-EEG studies that helped establish dysthymic and chronic depression as valid and treatable mood disorders. His subsequent research challenged many assumptions about the nature of personality disorders and paved the way for understanding the childhood variants and precursors of bipolar disorder. Dr. William E. Bunney is Distinguished Professor and Della Martin Chair of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine at the University of California-Irvine. Dr. Bunney is renowned for his research exploring the fundamental role of neurotransmitters in the major psychoses, particularly bipolar illness and schizophrenia. Among his many contributions, Dr. Bunney demonstrated that the stress hormone cortisol is involved in suicidal behavior. He also published one of the first double-blind studies of lithium for the treatment of depression and studied the mechanism of action of this drug. Dr. Bunney currently heads a large group of researchers who utilize a new, powerful technology called microarrays to search for the genes that cause severe depressive illness. The Ruane Prize for outstanding research in child and adolescent psychiatry went to Donald J. Cohen, M.D., who, sadly, passed away before the award ceremony. Dr. Cohen was Sterling Professor of Child Psychiatry at Yale University and director of the Yale Child Study Center at the School of Medicine. His research focused on discovering how stress, child poverty and other environmental factors interact with genetic and biological influences to cause neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. James Leckman of Yale University accepted the award in Dr. Cohen's place. "The groundbreaking contributions of these brilliant scientists have advanced the field of neuropsychiatric research and opened new doors," said Constance Lieber, President of NARSAD. "Through their vision, determination and tireless work, they are leading the quest for better treatments and a cure." |
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