Established in 1947 to celebrate neuroanatomy and now promotes all of neuroscience.
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Paola Arlotta Elected to Three Prestigious National Academies
The Cajal Club congratulates Dr. Paola Arlotta on three distinguished honors, which include her election to the United State's most prominent scientific organizations this past academic year: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (September 2024) and the National Academy of Medicine (October 2024) and the National Academy of Sciences (May 2025). Through her groundbreaking research in stem cell biology and brain development Dr. Arlotta has made significant contributions to neuroscience.
2025 The Changing Brain, jointly sponsored by the CNCM, Cajal Club and Allen Institute for Brain Science
August 18 to August 20, 2025
UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
The 2025 summer conference on “The Changing Brain,” jointly hosted by the CNCM, Cajal Club, and Allen Institute for Brain Science, will take place August 18–20, 2025, at the Marriott Irvine in California, with additional workshops at UCI on August 21. This flagship event, organized by Dr. Liqun Luo and colleagues, will feature six sessions exploring key topics like neural circuits, brain states, and disorders, with a focus on cutting-edge research and global collaboration. The conference offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, education, and presenting research, with abstract submissions now open for short talks and posters. Registration is also open—don’t miss this premier neuroscience event!
Dr. Larry W. Swanson Honored with Prestigious Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award at 2024 Cajal Club Dinner
At the 2024 Cajal Club Dinner, which was held concurrently with the annual Society of Neuroscience meeting, Dr. Larry W. Swanson was awarded a Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award. The club's elected officers and board of directors, led by Carol Mason, presented the honor to him.
The award is recognition of Swanson’s groundbreaking research on brain structure. His foundational databases and high resolution, three-dimensional models of central nervous system network architecture, especially of the hypothalamus, have advanced our understanding of the brain’s fundamental plan controlling thinking, feeling, and behavior. And, he has ensured Cajal’s legacy to current and future generations of artists and scientists by translating his major works into English and by serving as the Cajal Club historian.
2024 Krieg Cortical Kudos
Below are the 2024 winners of the Krieg Cortical Kudos awards in the three categories of Scholar, Explorer and Discoverer.
Discoverer
John Morrison
UC Davis Distinguished Professor, Core Scientist at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC), and Professor of Neurology in the School of Medicine at UC Davis
Dr. Morrison earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University and Ph.D. from the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and completed postdoctoral studies at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He then served as a faculty member at The Scripps Research Institute until he joined the faculty at Mount Sinai in 1989 where he went on to be Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and serve as Dean of Basic Sciences and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Mount Sinai before moving to UC Davis in 2015. Dr. Morrison has served on Council for the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), as Editor-in-Chief of SfN’s public-facing website, BrainFacts.org, Secretary of SfN, and is currently serving as President of SfN.
Dr. Morrison’s research program focuses primarily on the neurobiology of aging and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly as they relate to cellular and synaptic organization of cerebral cortex. His laboratory is particularly interested in age-related alterations in structural and molecular attributes of the synapse that compromise synaptic health, lead to cognitive decline, and potentially leave the brain vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In recent years, Dr. Morrison has developed and characterized both amyloid and tau-based nonhuman primate (NHP) models of AD. In addition, he has been studying neuro-invasive viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 in NHP models and is now pursuing mechanistic links between COVID-19 and risk of onset and acceleration of AD neuropathology.
Explorer
Cory Miller
Professor, University of California, San Diego
"The core mission of our lab’s research is to elucidate the neural basis of natural behavior. Our research philosophy is that significant insights into the cellular, circuit and computational mechanisms in the brain will come from examining neural processes as individuals are confronted with the very challenges their brains were optimized over evolution to solve. We approach this topic by developing experimental paradigms that leverage different ethological behaviors in the species repertoire – including social communication, spatial navigation and active vision – to investigate the supporting neural systems. Research in the lab is directly complemented by parallel studies of wild animals in their natural habitat that provide invaluable insights into how the same behaviors manifest in different ecological conditions."
- Cory Miller, 2024
Scholar
Xuyu Qian
Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Dr. Xuyu Qian is a postdoctoral fellow at Dr. Christopher Walsh’s laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on understanding the development and diseases of the human cerebral cortex using human-centric approaches. Under the mentorship of Dr. Hongjun Song and Dr. Guo-li Ming during his PhD at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Qian pioneered the development of human pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids and their application as disease models. Currently, he utilizes single-cell spatial transcriptomics to analyze the developing human cortex, uncovering fundamental insights into the formation and specification of distinct cortical layers and areas. By integrating organoid models, spatial omics, and human genetics, Dr. Qian aims to decode healthy developmental programs and identify the genetic and cellular disruptions that lead to diseases.
Call for Nominations for the Krieg Cortical Kudos for 2025
The Cajal Club is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Krieg Cortical Kudos awards. Celebrating its 38th year, these awards honor neuroscientists at various career stages for their contributions to understanding the cerebral cortex and its connections. With three categories—Cortical Discoverer, Cortical Explorer, and Cortical Scholar—recipients receive monetary prizes, a membership in the Cajal Club, and recognition at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago. Nominations are invited via email to Dr. Patrick R. Hof (patrick.hof@mssm.edu) by August 16, 2025.
Dr. Charles Ribak Honored with Prestigious Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award at 2023 Cajal Club Social
At the 2023 Cajal Club Social, which was held concurrently with the annual Society of Neuroscience meeting, Dr. Charles Ribak was awarded a Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award. The club's elected officers and board of directors, led by Larry Swanson, presented the honor to him. The recognition reflects Dr. Ribak's decades of commitment and service to the Cajal Club and advancing its goals. Dr. Ribak is a Professor Emeritus within the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology of the University of California Irvine. He has played a pivotal role in advancing the club's objectives as its president from 2000-2002 and through his impressive 18-year tenure as secretary and treasurer from 2005-2023. His outstanding service underscores his dedication to the club. Dr. Ribak's research in epilepsy, neurogenesis, and neural circuitry has earned him many prestigious awards, including the Michael Prize in Epilepsy, the Klingenstein Fellowship in the Neurosciences, and the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award.
2023 W. Maxwell Cowan Award Recipient
Paola Arlotta, Ph. D.
Chair of the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Golub Family Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University
Congratulations to Paola Arlotta, Ph.D., the distinguished Chair of the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Golub Family Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University, for being honored with the prestigious Cowan Award. Celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to neuroscience, particularly in the programming, reprogramming, and modeling of the mammalian cerebral cortex, Dr. Arlotta's research has illuminated our understanding of neuronal diversity and its pivotal role in critical behaviors. Her innovative approaches to the development and therapeutic potential of neuronal reprogramming promise to revolutionize treatments for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, continuing the legacy of W. Maxwell Cowan's dedication to neural development.
2023 Krieg Cortical Kudos
Below are the 2023 winners of the Krieg Cortical Kudos awards in the three categories of Scholar, Explorer and Discoverer.
Scholar
Heechul Jun
University of California, Irvine
For his contribution to our understanding the entorhinal-hippocampal circuit, and exploring the brain regions critical for learning and memory at both basic levels and in the disease state. His groundbreaking work on animal models, involving a simple yet elegant spatial and odor-associated rule learning task, allowed for the assessment of neural activity at both the single-cell and population levels and testing their functions at a causal level.
Explorer
André M. M. Sousa
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
André M. M. Sousa has been honored with the Krieg Cortical Explorer award from the Cajal Club for his pioneering work in human brain development and evolution. Educated at the University of Porto and having conducted significant genomic research during his Ph.D. at Yale, Sousa continues to advance our understanding of the brain at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His lab has notably discovered a unique population of inhibitory neurons in humans, distinct in their molecular makeup from those in other primates, capable of producing the neurotransmitter dopamine, which could have far-reaching implications for understanding the complexity of the human brain and the disorders affecting it.
Discoverer
Elly Nedivi
William R. (1964) & Linda R. Young Professor of Neuroscience, The Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, MIT
The Cajal Club has awarded Elly Nedivi the esteemed Krieg Cortical Discoverer Award for her groundbreaking research into brain circuit plasticity. A Ph.D. graduate from Stanford University and with foundational education in Biology and Biochemistry from the Hebrew University in Israel, Nedivi's work focuses on unraveling the complexities of synaptic and neuronal remodeling within the living mouse brain. Her lab is at the forefront of identifying the genetic and cellular mechanisms that facilitate the brain's ability to adapt through the strengthening and pruning of synaptic connections—a fundamental aspect of learning, memory, and overall brain development. Her innovative use of genetic and in vivo imaging techniques continues to provide significant insights into the plastic nature of the brain.
Dr. Carol Mason Receives Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award
CAROL MASON, PhDProfessor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Ophthalmic Science (in Ophthalmology) Principal Investigator and Chair of Interschool Planning at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute
CELEBRATING A CAREER OF EXCELLENCE
The Krieg Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Carol Mason at the recent 75th Anniversary celebration of the Cajal Club. This award, which is not given every year, is given infrequently to honor exceptional contributions in the field of science. The award was a unanimous decision made by the Cajal Club Officers and Board of Directors.
Dr. Larry Swanson presented the award to Dr. Mason, and this award serves as a testament to her outstanding contributions and dedication to the field of science. On behalf of the Cajal Club, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Carol Mason on this well-deserved recognition.
Biography: Dr. Carol Mason is a researcher at Columbia's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute studies the circuitry of the visual system. She focuses on the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which extend from the retina to the thalamus and midbrain, where signals are sent to the visual stations in the cortex. Half of the RGCs send their axons to the same side of the brain while the other half cross over, allowing for binocular vision. Dr. Mason is investigating how the axons know whether to cross over or remain on the same side at the optic chiasm.
RESEARCHERS HONORED WITH MAJOR AWARDS: Pradel Research Award and French Academy of Sciences Election
Pradel Research Award Winner
HONGKUI ZENG, PhD
Director of the Allen Institute for Brain Science
Zeng is the recipient of the 2023 Pradel Research Award from the National Academy of Sciences, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our understanding of cell types and connections in the mammalian brain and her development of systems neuroscience tools and data that are freely available to the research community.
Zeng’s groundbreaking contributions have led to a better understanding of neuronal diversity and neural circuits. Her research includes the development of transgenic mouse lines for marking and manipulating specific neuronal types, analysis of connectivity among brain areas with particular emphasis on connections between thalamus and cortex, and the use of single cell molecular methods to classify and characterize neurons and non-neuronal cells in cortex and other parts of the brain.
Elected to the French Academy of Sciences
SONIA GAREL, PhD
Professor, Collège de France PI Brain Development and Plasticity Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS)
Sonia Garel is a developmental neurobiologist. She currently heads a team at the Institut of Biology of the Ecole Normale Superieure (IBENS) in Paris and is a Professor at the College de France. Her research focuses on the mechanisms that control the assembly of cortical circuits during development, with a particular interest on the roles of microglia, interactions with the immune system and environmental signals, such as the microbiota. Using a combination of experimental approaches she explores how transient interactions between neuronal and immune cells shape circuit wiring in physiological and pathological conditions.
LEAH KRUBITZER
Dual Honors as Palay Award Recipient and New Cajal Club President
Palay Award Winner
LEAH KRUBITZER, PhD
Professor of Psychology, UC Davis
Leah Krubitzer is a renowned neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology at UC Davis, where she also leads the Laboratory of Evolutionary Neurobiology. Her research focuses on the evolution of complex brains in mammals and the anatomical and electrophysiological characteristics of neocortex neurons. By conducting comparative studies, she aims to explain the diversity of mammalian behavioral and perceptual abilities through investigating the role of evolutionary old developmental mechanisms.
Passing the Gavel
While Pasko Rakic (back) looks ahead, Charles Ribak, Cajal Club Treasurer (left) officiates the transition of the elected Cajal Club President, Leah Krubitzer (right), into her role. Leah will assume the office Carol Mason has held for the past two years.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the election of Leah Krubitzer as the new President of the Cajal Club. Leah will be succeeding Carol Mason, who has held the position with distinction for the past two years. Carol's leadership and hard work have greatly contributed to the success of the club, and we are grateful for all that she has done. Leah has a long history of achievements and contributions to the field of neuroscience and is a well-respected member of the scientific community.
WINNERS OF THE 2022 KRIEG CORTICAL KUDOS
Several prizes are awarded by the Cajal Club in different categories. The Krieg Cortical Kudos recognize outstanding scientists working on the cerebral cortex at three levels: the established investigator (Discoverer), the young professional who has received an advanced professional degree within the ten year period prior to the time of nomination (Explorer), and the recent PhD graduate no more than two years beyond obtaining their advanced degree (Scholar). Learn more on our Awards page, link below.
2022 Krieg Cortical Kudos
Below are the 2022 winners of the Krieg Cortical Kudos awards in the three categories of Scholar, Explorer and Discoverer.
Scholar
CAMERON CONDYLIS
PHD STUDENT, BOSTON UNIVERSITY
For his outstanding contributions to our understanding of the role that primary and secondary somatosensory cortex play in context-dependent sensory processing. His development of a platform for population-wide functional imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics has illuminated activity patterns across and local connectivity between cortical cell types.
Explorer
MICHAEL YARTSEV
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UC BERKELEY
For his superb contributions to our understanding of the neuroscience of behavior, social learning, and anatomical pathways involved in group sociality and communication are recognized with this award. Remarkable and illuminating, his work on the bat studying complex spatial behavior cojoins efforts to assess neural activity, vocalizations, and social interactions from large groups of bats simultaneously. Photo credit, Adam Lau.
Discoverer
ALAIN CHÉDOTAL
RESEARCH DIRECTOR AND GROUP LEADER Director, VISION INSTITUTE/INSERM, PARIS
For his many superb contributions to our understanding of the development of circuitry in the hindbrain and cerebellum to and from the cortex, as well as his discovery and functional analysis of axon guidance receptors in these structures and in the spinal cord, are recognized by this award. Your employment of tissue clearing approaches to reveal unsuspected cellular organization of the brain and other tissues, as well as his elucidation of the evolution of bilateral visual projections in ancient fish, are in the spirit of the KCK award and of the Cajal Club itself. Photo credit, Lardhuin/Sorbonne Université/Institut de la Vision.
Discoverer
DENIS JABAUDON
PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF BASIC NEUROSCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA
For his outstanding contributions to our understanding of cortical development are recognized by this award. The generation and differentiation of specific subtypes of neocortical and thalamic neurons is driven by gene expression programs, which are probed by clever tools he developed in order to elucidate how sensory experience regulates these programs during development. His work showed how important both dynamic input-dependent and cell-intrinsic factors are for circuit assembly and how they change each other in the mammalian neocortex.
