Courtesy Baylor College of Medicine
Maria Morkas Jan 10, 2023 at 9:12pm
Dr. Huda Zoghbi, Honorary Director of the United States, said: 2022 Kavli Prize in NeuroscienceShe and her colleagues received the award for their discovery of genes involved in severe brain disorders.
Kavli Prize in Neuroscience Published by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. In 2022, Zoghbi and her collaborators Harry T. Orr of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Jean Louis Mandel of the University of Strasbourg, and Christopher A. Walsh of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School were awarded the prize. . Boston Children’s Hospital.
The award recognizes Zogbi’s independent research on Rett’s syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that affects brain development in girls, and Orr’s joint work on spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, a progressive movement disorder. Research accepted.
“This is the most special award in recognition of our collaboration since 1988,” said Zoghbi. “It’s really special to me [because] Collaboration in science is very important, and it is very important that collaboration is recognized. ”
Zoghbi’s interest in Rett syndrome peaked after encountering two clinical patients who lost language and motor skills at the age of 2 and developed idiosyncrasy and balance problems, as well as other functional impairments. .
“The first time I saw [two children with Rett syndrome in the United States]I was really intrigued, but at the same time, I felt the heartache of imagining a girl going through it… I’m sure there must be more,” Zorbi said. “When I asked the volunteers at the clinic… [to bring] Some records on me. After reviewing them, I found more girls with Rett Syndrome. That’s exactly why I wanted to go to the lab right now and find out what causes Rett’s syndrome. ”
Zogby has been made rice board Since 2014, later elected to the Baker Institute for Public Policy advisory board In 2020, he completed his Pediatric Neurology residency and fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine, and has since joined the department as a Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, and Human Genetics. In 2010, he founded the Jan and Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital.
“The only way you can [make a difference in researching neurological problems] It’s about bringing people from different disciplines together in the same building, encouraging collaboration, providing tools, support and infrastructure, and creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment,” said Zoghbi. “Suddenly we can make a difference.”
Zoghbi is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Arts. she has ever Elaine Redding Brinster Award in science or medicine, brain award When breakthrough award in life sciences.
Zoghbi said he is excited about the potential of using genetic and molecular discoveries to develop future treatments.
“I see a lot of opportunities for new treatments for so many diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and various forms of intellectual disability,” said Zoghbi. “Brain science is going to really change in the next few years because there are so many opportunities. increase.”
Alex Han, a junior at Brown University, has been working at the Zoghbi Lab since his freshman year. Han said she appreciated Zoghbi’s ability to simplify complex scientific concepts and her attentiveness to each individual project.
“She can simplify the most complex concepts into very simple layman’s terms, enabling undergraduates and those who have never even taken AP biology to understand the science behind it. said Han.
Dah-eun Chloe Chung, a postdoctoral associate in Zoghbi’s lab, said he admires Zoghbi for being a caring mentor while aspiring to do good science.
“She gives trainees a lot of intellectual freedom when it comes to developing scientific questions and approaches to test hypotheses, and gives them the ability to refine their research and guide their projects in the most scientifically correct direction. We will also provide sufficient feedback,” Chung said.
Zoghbi said he would never trade his academic life for anything else because he finds his work so rewarding.
“I’m so excited about the field of neuroscience. There are so many opportunities…so many that every neuroscience student is ready to discover and make a difference,” Zoghbi said. I got
