Story Landis Receives Ralph W Gerard Prize in Neuroscience
WASHINGTON, DC — The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) will present its highest award, the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience, to Story Landis, PhD, former director of the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke. The $25,000 prize will be awarded during Neuroscience 2015, SfN’s annual meeting and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
The prize honors outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to neuroscience throughout their careers. The Gerard Prize was established in the name of Ralph W. Gerard, who was instrumental in establishing SfN and served as honorary president from 1970 until his death in 1974.
“Throughout her career, Dr. Landis has had an unsurpassed positive influence on neuroscience in the United States and beyond,” SfN President Steven Hyman said. “The Society is pleased to recognize her achievements as an excellent researcher and as director of NINDS. Her dedication to public service as well as her support for basic science and the push for better treatments has been instrumental to the field.”
Landis has had a remarkable impact on neuroscience through her research on how functionally appropriate synapses form during development and the role of neurotrophins in the peripheral nervous system. Her work remains the foundation of this research area.
Landis was instrumental in creating the Department of Neurosciences at Case Western University in Cleveland. Her vision and leadership transformed NINDS, where she served first as scientific director and then as director. In the role of director, Landis exercised her commitment to training and mentorship, identified and supported important science, and addressed the need to increase gender parity and diversity in science. Since her retirement, Landis has taken on positions on advisory boards and review panels.
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an organization of nearly 40,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system.
