Dana Alliance Members

More than 300 neuroscientists comprise the Alliance membership, joined by the common interest in advancing public awareness about brain research. Recognized as leaders in their respective fields, they are among the world’s foremost authorities on neuroscientific research and clinical neurology topics.  Each has made a personal commitment to support the mission of the Dana Alliance through active participation in outreach and educational activities. Among the current members, 10 have received the Nobel Prize.

The Executive Committee of the Dana Alliance directs and guides the operations and activities of the organization in pursuit of its mission.

current list of members is available here.

Dana Alliance Elects 19 New Members

Moses V. Chao, Ph.D., New York University School of Medicine
Diane Chugani, Ph.D., Children’s Hospital of Michigan  
Hollis T. Cline, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute
Anthony J. Furlan, M.D., Case Western Reserve School of Medicine 
Paul W. Glimcher, Ph.D., New York University, Center for Neural Science
Andreas Jeromin, Ph.D., Banyan Biomarker’s, Inc.
Arnold Kriegstein, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
Ann C. McKee, M.D., Boston University School of Medicine
Richard K. Nakamura, Ph.D., Center for Scientific Research, NIH
Rae Nishi, Ph.D., University of Vermont
Jeffrey L. Noebels, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine
Marina Picciotto, Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine
Scott L. Pomeroy, M.D., Ph.D., Children’s Hospital, Boston
Eric Racine, Ph.D., Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal
Mark M. Rasenick, Ph.D., Univ. of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine
John L. R. Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., Univ. of California, San Francisco       
Kathryn E. Saatman, Ph.D., University of Kentucky 
Craig Stark, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Howard L. Weiner, M.D., Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Three Dana Alliance members elected new members of the Institute of Medicine

Richard L. Huganir, Ph.D., HHMI and Johns Hopkins University,  Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Ph.D., the Rockefeller University, and Li-Huei Tsai, Ph.D., D.V.M., HHMI and MIT were elected new members of the IOM.  Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. 

Carla J. Shatz receives the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience

The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has awarded the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience to Carla J. Shatz, Ph.D., BioX, Stanford University for her contributions to the field of neuroscience. Her work has provided fundamental insights into brain circuit changes during development. 

Brenda Milner Receives the 2011 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize

Nobel laureate and Alliance member Paul Greengard and his wife Ursula von Rydingsvard established the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize honoring women in science. Brenda A. Milner, Sc.D., McGill University was awarded the prize for her pioneering work in cognitive neuroscience on November 3, 2011.  See also, Memory As a Life's Work: an Interview with Brenda Milner

Dennis Selkoe Receives William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award 

Dennis J. Selkoe, M.D. is the recipient of the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School.

Seventeen New Members Join the Dana Alliance

The Executive Committee of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives announced the names of seventeen members newly elected to the organization.

Marc Tessier-Lavigne Named President of The Rockefeller University

Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Ph.D. was named President of The Rockefeller University effective March 2011. Previously, Tessier-Lavigne was Executive Vice President for Research and Chief Scientific Officer at Genentech.

Bruce McEwen Wins Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience

Bruce s. McEwen, Ph.D. at The Rockefeller University is the winner of the 2011 Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience. The prize is awarded annually by the McGovern Institute to recognize outstanding advances in the field of neuroscience. 

Marcus Raichle Receives MetLife Foundation Award for Medcial Research in Alzhiemer's Disease

Marcus E. Raichle, M.D., Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Randy L. Buckner, Ph.D.. Harvard University were the recipients of MetLife Foundations Award for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease for thier pioneer work in the area of brain imaging leading to inroads in the study of Alzheimer's.

Richard Mayeux Named Chair of Neurology of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Richard Mayeux, M.D., MSc, was named the new Chair of the Department of Neurology of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Neurologist-in-Chief at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

Three Members of the Dana Alliance Elected to the Institute of Medicine

Alliance memebers Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., the Dr. Evelyn Spiro, R.N. Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Robert B. Darnell, M.D., Ph.D., Investigator HHMI and Robert and Harriett Heilbrunn Professor of Cancer Biology, Rockefeller University and Gary L. Gottlieb, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer, Partners Healthcare System were elected to the Institute of Medicine. 

Alliance Member Charles P. O'Brien and Eric J. Nestler Awarded the 2010 Sarnat Prize in Mental Health

The Institute of Medicine awarded the 2010 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health to Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D., the Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Charles P. O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D., the Kenneth Appel Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for their complimentary achievements in addiction scieince.   

Antonio Damasio Wins Honda Prize

Antonio Damasio, M.D., David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC is the sole recipient of the Honda prize. Damasio was chosen "for his pioneering efforts and remarkable contributions in the world of neuroscience."

  Alliance Member Joanne Berger-Sweeney Named Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tufts

Tufts Univesity has named Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Ph.D., M.P.H., as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences effective, August 23, 2010. Berger-Sweeney was the Allene Lummis Russell Professor in Neuroscience at Wellesley College and was named Associate Dean there in 2004.  She is widely recognized for her efforts to increase diversity in the biological sciences.    

In Memoriam: Fred Plum, M.D. 

Fred Plum, M.D. passed away in New York on June 11, 2010. Dr. Plum was University Professor, Emeritus, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He was a founding member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and served on the Dana Alliance Executive Committee.     

Alliance Members Receive Special Awards, Honors, and Prizes

Announced June 2, 2010 - Thomas C. Südhof, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine will share the 2010 Kavli Prize with Drs. Richard Scheller, Gentech, and James Rothman, Yale University for discovering the molecular basis of signal transfer between nerve cells in the brain. 

William A. Catterall, Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine received the 2010 Canada Gairdner International Award

Harry T. Chugani, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Michigan was elected President of the International Child Neurology Association for term 2010-2014. Inauguration was held in Cairo, Egypt, May 2010

Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., The Salk Institute for Biological Studies was elected to the American Philosophical Society

Stephen L. Hauser, M.D., appointed by President Obama as Member of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues

Members' News and Views

In Celebration of Brain Awareness Week, March 13-18, 2012
An Interview with Rae Nishi, Ph.D. about the University of Vermont's BAW outreach efforts.

Steven M. Paul and William Z. Potter write about "Do Antidepressants Really Work?" 
In a February 2012 Report on Progress, William Z. Potter, M.D., Ph.D., and DABI Executive Committee member Steven M. Paul, M.D. write about how currently used antidepressants do not work particularly well for most patients, but they do work for many and they can literally save lives.

New Books by DABI Members
"The Biology of Alzheimer Disease", edited by DABI members Dennis J. Selkoe, M.D., David M. Holtzman, M.D., and Eckhard Mandelkow, Ph.D., published by Cold Spring Harbor Press 
"Alfalfa to Ivy: Memoir of a Harvard Medical School Dean" by Joseph B. Martin, M.D., Ph.D., published by Gutteridge Books
"Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why it Matters" by Gordon M. Shepherd, M.D., D.Phil, published by Columbia University Press

DABI Members Participate in Rubin Museum of Art's Brainwave Series
In "What's My Line", Comedian Lewis Black and DABI member Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. discuss the implications of short-term memory loss for an actor after the New York City premiere screening of the documentary, Caris' Peace. Also, in "The Age of Insight" Eric Kandel, M.D. reinvigorates the conversation between art and science that began in Vienna 1900.

Guy McKhann writes about "The Power of Suggestion" in his latest Brain in the News column.
With growing evidence regarding a placebo response, it is important to minimize the effects as much as possible.

The Charlie Rose Brain Series 2: Neurological, Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders 
Eric Kandel, Thomas Insel, Gerald Fischbach, Cornelia Bargmann and Nora Volkow  kick-off Part II of the Charlie Rose Brain Series.

The Arts of Neuroscientists: Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D.
This is the first in a series of conversations with Alliance members about thier artistic pursuits.

David Amaral writes about Autism: The Pervasive Developmental Disorder 
In an August 2011 Report on Progress, David G. Amaral, Ph.D. provides a short primer on the basics of autism, discusses the complicated genetics of autism, the lack of treatments and conclusions.

David Holtzman writes about New Diagnostic Criteria for Alzheimer's Disease: What do they really mean?
In a Dana Report of Progress, David M. Holtzman, M.D. discusses the new diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) published in April 2011. He explains, among other topics, dementia, the pathological and clincal time course of AD, and the development of future treatments.

Ignorance and the Undertreatment of Addiction: Lessons from Prison
Charles P. O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D. works with parolees who have a history of addiction and relapse. In this Q&A, he talks about his research using naltrexone and his frustration at the reluctance of many doctors to treat addiction with medication.

Secrets of Aging
Carol A. Barnes, Ph.D. contributed a detailed a detailed article for TheScientist.com about the secrets of aging. She informs readers about aging topics including what a normally aging brain looks like and whether diseases of aging such as Alzheimer's are inevitable. [off-site link.] See also, Dana Q&A with Carol Barnes:   Applying Insights from the Study of Normal Aging to Solve Dementia.

A General in the Drug War 
Nora D. Volkow, M.D is profiled in a New York Times article where she talks about her career, her resarch and reign as director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. [off-site link.] See also a Cerebrum essay by Dr. Volkow: Challenges and Opportunities in Drug Addiction Research.

World Science Festival: The Unbearable Lightness of Memory
Dana staff member blogs about a program at the World Science Festival in New York City that featured DABI members Elizabeth A. Phelps, Ph.D., Lynn Nadel, Ph.D., and Daniel L. Schacter, Ph.D.  They discussed the way memory is defined, where memory is stored, how we recall, why we forget, senior moments, and more.

Interview with Ellen Frank, Ph.D. in Celebration of Mental Health Month
Ellen Frank, Ph.D. discusses her current work, public perception and stigma regarding mental health and her efforts to educate the public about bipolar and other psychotic disorders.

Sleep, Aging & Alzheimer's: New Genetic Findings Reveal Clues to the Brain's "Sleep Switch"
Clifford B. Saper, M.D., Ph.D. discusses his research into the connection between sleep problems in aging and an area of the brain know as the "sleep switch."

Gray Matters Podcast Wins Journalism Award for My Subject My Child: A Parent/Researcher's Search for Answers on Autism
Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.faced the challene of both treating and studying his son's condition. [off-site link to audio and transcript]

Bruce McEwen writes about Effects of Stress on the Developing Brain
In a Dana Report on Progress, Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D., writes studies of infants and mothers are drawing a clear picture of the singular importance of early life experiences for the future adult.

Joseph LeDoux Blogs About His Music for Scientific American Online
On the occasion of the release of his new CD, "Theory of My Mind," Scientific American online published an article by Joe LeDoux, Ph.D. about the CD, his band, and his life-long love of pop/rock music. [0ff-site link] You can also find video interviews and a live performance by LeDoux at Bigthink.com [off-site link] 

UT-Medical School at Houston "Understanding the Brain" 
John H. Byrne, Ph.D. is featured in Houston Chronicle article which talks about his research, career path, and outreach efforts. [off-site link]

Magnetic Brain Scans Become More Attractive
A new study based on research by Apostolos Georgopoulos, M.D., Ph.D. appearing in the Journal of Neural Engineering suggests that magnetoencephalography (MEG) can identify the vast majority of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Celebrating Eric Kandel at 80
Columbia University celebrated the 80th birthday of Nobel Laureate neuroscientist Eric Kandel with a daylong symposium on November 20.  Seventeen colleagues and form students gave addresses describing how Kandel's work on brain function inspired their own research on topics ranging from the emotions of mice to the neuronal underpinning of moral thought.  PBS talk-show host Charlie Rose, with whom Kandel is currently cohosting a yearlong series of special episodes on the brain, emceed a dinner.  Watch a video interview with Kandel [off-site link]

Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Minority Populations 
Unraveling Risks, Overcoming Barriers
An Interview with Patrick A. Griffith, M.D.

New Dana Press Book: Treating the Brain: What the Best Doctors Know
Even in this information age, people dealing with often-serious neurological problems face the daunting task of finding accurate, credible and understandable information—the essential medical fact. Using case histories as examples, Walter G. Bradley explains the neurological examinations, tests, clinical features, causes and treatments available for Alzheimer’s disease, migraines, stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and other frequently diagnosed neurological disorders.

New York Times Book Review: 'Nothing Was the Same' 
Kay Redfield Jamison, who discussed her own manic depression in “An Unquiet Mind” revisits her husband’s death from cancer. [off-site link]

How Robots Could Transform the Classroom
Read about Machine Learning and the Transformation of Education in a Q&A with Terrence J. Sejnowski, Ph.D.

Music and the Brain Podcasts
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., served as project chair on the Library of Congress series Music and the Brain." Podcasts are now available featuring performances, lectures and conversations with leading scientists, scholars, composers, performers and other experts. This series was partially funded by the Dana Foundation. [off-site link]

Neuroaesthetics and Neuroeducation Move Forward, Together
In his Brain in the News column, Guy M. McKhann, M.D. writes that there is growing interaction between experts in neuroscience and those in the arts, an amalgamation sometimes referred to as neuroaesthetics."

New BWH Study Finds Protein Fragments Can Disrput Memory
Dennis Selkoe, M.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and medical student Ganesh Shankar, Ph.D., published research that helps scientists understand the events that lead to a person developing Alzheimer's disease. [PDF, Selkoe photo page 2]

A Biology of Mental Disorder
Dana Alliance Vice Chairman Eric Kandel writes in Newsweek this week of his optimism that the next 10 to 20 years will be more fruitful for neuroscience than the past two decades have been. [off-site link]

Illuminating genius: insights from science and the arts
Nancy C. Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D., blogs on the importance of providing students with a "liberal education" that combines the study of the arts and the sciences.

Findings Should Help Scientists and Educators Join Forces 
Guy M. McKhann, M.D., writes about neuroeducation and the need for a new type of transition person who can bridge the education and cognitive neuroscience fields.

Why the Arts Matter
Jerome Kagan, Ph.D., Gives Six Good Reasons for Advocating the Importance of Arts in School.

First Lessons from My Personal Genome
Remarks by James D. Watson, Ph.D., Nobel Prize winner and Vice Chairman of the Dana Alliance, on receiving a Double Helix Award.