Prestigious Pearl Meister Greengard Prize to be awarded to pioneering memory researcher Brenda Milner

Dr. Brenda Milner, a pioneer in the field of cognitive neuroscience whose discoveries revolutionized the understanding of memory, will be awarded the 2011 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize from The Rockefeller University. The prize, which carries an honorarium of $100,000, recognizes female scientists who have made exceptional contributions to biomedical science, a group that historically has not received appropriate recognition and acclaim.

Dr. Milner, Dorothy J. Killam Professor at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute has spent six decades unraveling the mysteries of the brain, and she has been credited by Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel with merging the fields of psychology and neurobiology to create the field of cognitive neuroscience. Dr. Milner’s seminal research has provided landmark discoveries in the study of human memory and the brain’s temporal lobes, which play a key role in emotional responses, hearing, memory and speech.

“I am absolutely delighted and amazed to receive this special award and so proud and honoured to be representing women scientists in this context. I am very privileged for having been able to pursue my sense of curiosity within the culture of excellence at the Montreal Neurological Institute, as well as to train and encourage talented young students — driving forces throughout my career to which I attribute much of my success,” said Dr. Milner.

To read the full press release, visit the McGill Newsroom.