The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) honored Allan Basbaum, PhD, FRS, as one of the recipients of the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience — the highest recognition given by SfN — for groundbreaking work that has transformed neuroscience. Dr. Basbaum will be presented with the prize during SfN’s annual meeting in Chicago, 5-10 October 2024.
Named for the revered neuroscientist Dr. Ralph W. Gerard, who was instrumental in establishing the Society for Neuroscience and served as its honorary president, the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience recognizes outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to neuroscience throughout their careers.
In a press release from SfN, President Marine Picciotto said, “The Society is honored to recognize this outstanding group of neuroscientists, whose breadth of scientific curiosity and innovation has led to breakthrough insights, landmark models, and revisions to major neuroscientific theories. Their work not only elucidates molecular mechanisms and circuits in the brain, but also transforms these insights into new clinical options for a range of diseases from addiction and mental health disorders to neurodegenerative diseases.”
Dr. Basbaum, Chair of the Department of Anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco, is a prominent leader in the pain research field and has been key in bringing his expansive knowledge of anatomy and physiology to the understanding of pain. Dr. Basbaum has been a member of IASP since 1975, served as the Editor-in-Chief of PAIN, and currently serves on IASP’s Pain Research Forum Editorial Board. His continued contributions to IASP and pain research have earned him an Honorary Membership.
Dr. Basbaum has been instrumental in mapping the neuroanatomy of the pain system and has contributed to the landmark model of endogenous pain control circuitry still being utilized. Dr. Basbaum has also worked to combine neuroanatomical and pharmacological approaches to identify potential therapeutic options for both acute and chronic pain. While studying the interface of certain types of pain with neuroimmune mechanisms and the introduction of spinal cord cell transplants to restore inhibitory control for pain relief, Dr. Basbaum’s work has also provided important insights into clinical pain management. Additionally, his research has been instrumental in establishing that neuropathic pain is a disease of the nervous system and not, as previously assumed, a symptom resulting from injury.
You can learn more here about the Society for Neuroscience, Neuroscience 2024, and Dr. Basbaum’s achievements.