Pasko Rakic, MD, PhD
Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neurobiology and Professor of Neurology

Mentee:
Anita Huttner, MD

Dr. Rakic, a renowned neuroscientist is chairman of the department of neurobiology and director of the Kavli Institute of Neuroscience. He has spent his research career studying the cellular events and molecular mechanisms that govern development of the mammalian central nervous system. One line of investigation focuses on the fundamental issue of the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis that determine the number of neurons allocated to the building of the cerebral cortex. The other series of studies concerns molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal migration including cell-cell recognition, neuron glia-interaction and nuclear translocation. In 2002, Dr. Rakic received the 15th annual Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Neuroscience Research for discovering the principles and molecular mechanisms of neuronal migration.