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The discovery of neuronal migration and Rakic's numerous other contributions provided the framework for current understanding of normal and pathological development of the human brain.
Rakic, the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor and chair of neurobiology at the School of Medicine, received $50,000 and a commemorative medallion at a dinner held in his honor on Sept. 18 in New York.
Rakic's discovery of how embryonic nerve cells migrate along pathways to reach the central nervous system is very well-known in the field. He introduced incisive, genetic, cell biological and molecular concepts to identify the essential events in the early life history of nerve cells throughout the mammalian brain. This achievement revolutionized the understanding of molecular and cellular events in the developing brain and served as a catalyst for later studies of cellular interactions and how they determine the pattern of connections that mediate perception, learning and memory in the adult brain.
Early in his career, Rakic established where, when and how immature nerve cells acquire their position and identity as components of information-processing circuits in the brain. He then identified specific molecules involved in neuronal recognition, motility, and guided migration within the developing brain.
These discoveries led him to propose the radial unit hypothesis, a "brick-by-brick" building concept that relates organization of individual adult circuits to their development. This theory complemented his protomap hypothesis, which suggests how these units might be assigned specific functional identities throughout the developing brain.
These models provide explanations for the development and evolutionary growth of the cerebral cortex as well as the pathogenesis of a host of genetic and acquired brain abnormalities such as childhood epilepsy, mental retardation, autism and schizophrenia. These hypotheses have now gained support by the most advanced methods in numerous laboratories throughout the world.
Rakic's recent work involved manipulating or deleting genes involved in programmed cell death and differentiation of neuronal stem cells. The latest findings from his laboratory indicate that genes associated with neuronal stem cell differentiation in early development also have a role in maintaining neuronal structure and their connections in the adult brain, therefore participating in the origin of neurodegenerative diseases.
"It is gratifying that understanding the molecular mechanism of early brain development may also help to prevent, delay or treat aging disorders such as Alzheimer's disease," says Rakic.
-- By Karen Peart
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