In the Press

The Award of “Scientific Heroines” Honors Dr. Jennifer Doudna

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, October 4, 2018

CRISPR-Cas9 expert receives the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize from The Rockefeller University.

RNA Expert Wins “American Nobel”

Scientific American, September 11, 2018

2012 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize winner Joan Argetsinger Steitz, known for her pivotal discoveries about cell biology and for her efforts to encourage women in science and engineering, has won the 2018 Lasker-Koshland Award for Special Achievement in Medical Science.

An Unforgettable Memory Expert Muses at 100

The Wall Street Journal, August 24, 2018

2011 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize winner Brenda Milner is celebrated for her insight into recollections as a feature of neurobiology.

The Future of Medicine May Land Within Five to 10 Years, Crispr Inventor Says

Bloomberg, August 23, 2018

2018 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize recipient Jennifer Doudna says the field is probably five to ten years away from having an approved therapy for patients.

Changing Hearts and Minds: How the Art For Justice Fund Hopes to Reduce Mass Incarceration

Inside Philanthropy, August 21, 2018

Agnes Gund, a collector and philanthropist who will present the 2018 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, partnered with the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors last year to launch the $100 million Art for Justice Fund with the goal of reducing U.S. prison populations.

The Cell’s Integrated Circuit: A Profile of Lucy Shapiro

The Scientist, August 1, 2018

This article profiles the research and career of Lucy Shapiro, who received the 2014 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize for her contributions to the field of developmental biology.

How to Edit a Human

The Economist 1843, August/September 2018

For decades scientists aspired to modify the code of life. Molecular biologist Jennifer Doudna and her team helped to make the process simpler and usable by almost anyone.

How Form Follows Feeling for Sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard

Hyperallergic, July 17, 2018

Ursula von Rydingsvard had brains on her mind during the reveal of two works.

Steitz Reflects on Women in Science

Yale Daily News, February 1, 2018

Molecular biologist Joan Steitz spoke about modern scientific advancements, prejudice in science and her own experiences at a wide-ranging college tea.

The Women Who Should Win the Nobel Prize—but Haven’t

Pacific Standard, October 17, 2017

While Joan Steitz hasn’t won the Nobel, both she and King have won the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize—a prize established by Nobel laureate Paul Greengard, who used his Nobel money to set up a prize that “recognizes the accomplishment of outstanding women scientists.”

Brenda Milner, Eminent Brain Scientist, Is ‘Still Nosy’ at 98

The New York Times, May 15, 2017

At 98, Dr. Milner is not letting up in a nearly 70-year career to clarify the function of many brain regions — frontal lobes, and temporal; vision centers and tactile; the left hemisphere and the right — usually by painstakingly testing people with brain lesions, often from surgery. Her prominence long ago transcended gender, and she is impatient with those who expect her to be a social activist. It’s science first with Dr. Milner, say close colleagues, in her lab and her life.

The Mind and Its Mysteries: Nobel Prize winner Paul Greengard and Sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard

The Wall Street Journal, December 23, 2014

The biophysicist [Dr. Paul Greengard] and Ms. von Rydingsvard established the $100,000 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, in partnership with other supporters of Rockefeller University. It’s awarded annually to women for outstanding achievements in science. Two recipients have gone on to win Nobel Prizes themselves. The 2014 award went to Lucy Shapiro, a developmental biologist at Stanford University.

Crashing the Old Boys’ Science Club (Op-Ed)

live science, December 18, 2014

Publicizing the success of established female scientists is an additional incentive for female trainees to stay focused and do great science. To recognize outstanding female leaders in biology, Rockefeller neuroscientist and Nobel laureate Paul Greengard and his wife, sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard, established the annual Pearl Meister Greengard Prize.

Lasker Winner Calls for More Genetic Testing for Cancer

The New York Times, September 8, 2014

The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation awards — often called the “American Nobels” in medical science — were announced Monday morning, and one of the winners used the spotlight to call for greatly widening the use of genetic screening for breast and ovarian cancer.

The recipient, Mary-Claire King, 68, of the University of Washington in Seattle, is one of five scientists being honored; she won the special achievement award for “bold, imaginative” scientific and human rights accomplishments.

Pearl Meister Greengard Prize Winner Followed a Gut Feeling for 16 Years

The Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2013

Pediatric neurologist and neuroscientist Huda Y. Zoghbi won Rockefeller University’s 10th annual Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, which on Thursday night she attributed in part to following “a gut feeling.” For 16 years, she tracked down a gene mutation that causes Rett Syndrome, a form of autism that only affects girls. None of her male colleagues supported her hunch that Rett Syndrome could be a genetic disorder.

The Pearl Meister Greengard Prize: Praising Pioneers in Biomedical Research

HuffPost Science, December 4, 2013

There is nothing particularly remarkable about a woman doing science. Any person — man or woman — who shows an intellectual curiosity combined with a strong work ethic, good decision making, and a little bit of luck can be successful in science. What is remarkable, however, is the severe underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. And for the few women who pursue these career endeavors, their achievements, however great, often go unsung.

Extra gene makes mice manic

Nature, October 23, 2013

Duplication of a single gene — and too much of the corresponding protein in brain cells — causes mice to have seizures and display manic-like behaviour, a study has found. But a widely used drug reversed the symptoms, suggesting that it could also help some people with hyperactivity who do not respond to common treatments.

All Eyes on Her: ‘Ona,’ by Ursula von Rydingsvard, Arrives in Brooklyn

The New York Times, August 30, 2013

A crane was standing by, and, as dozens of people looked on, it lifted the 19-foot-high abstract sculpture into place, right under the Center’s distinctive “oculus” overhang. By sunrise on Friday, “Ona,” by the artist Ursula von Rydingsvard, was greeting surprised passers-by.

I Discovered the BRCA1 Gene (and I am delighted the Supreme Court ruled that it cannot be patented)

Slate, June 15, 2013

Mary-Claire King, the geneticist who discovered the BRCA1 gene, says she is delighted by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that makes it illegal to patent it. Her work inspired the forthcoming film Decoding Annie Parker, in which she is portrayed by Helen Hunt.

The 2012 Pearl Meister Greengard Award: Honoring Joan A. Steitz, PhD, for her Pioneering Work in RNA Biology

HuffPost Science, November 19, 2012

When Nobel laureates do noble deeds, it does not go unrecognized. Using his winnings from the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine, Dr. Paul Greengard of The Rockefeller University, along with generous supporters, established the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize to celebrate the outstanding contributions of women in science.

Catching Up With the Oceanographer Sylvia Earle

The New York Times, October 20, 2012

Sylvia Earle is an oceanographer, explorer and conservationist who has led more than 60 deep-sea expeditions and logged more than 6,000 hours underwater, setting world records for solo diving.

93-Year-Old Wins Prestigious Science Award

Fox News, November 8, 2011

At 93-years-old, Brenda Milner is responsible for some of the biggest discoveries in the science of memory. And she’s still working today, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She’s also the winner of the prestigious Pearl Meister Greengard Prize for her achievements, which includes $100,000 in award money.

‘Nosy’ and Observant, a Neuroscientist Continues Her Memorable Career at 93

The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 6, 2011

Psychology students who read about Brenda Milner’s seminal work with amnesia patients nearly 60 years ago might not suspect that she is, at 93, still engaged full time in research and teaching. Nor that last week, in New York, she would be picking up a major award, the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, which honors female researchers who have made extraordinary contributions to the biomedical sciences.

Canadian neuroscience pioneer honoured with prestigious U.S. award

The Globe and Mail, November 3, 2011

Brenda Milner is one of the most important neuroscientists of the 20th century, blazing a trail at McGill University in Montreal at a time when few women held positions of importance in science. She has received numerous awards for her work and on Thursday, at 93 years old, she’ll be honoured with another.

The Man Who Loves Women Who Love Science

The Huffington Post, November 3, 2011

Why can’t all men be like Nobel Laureate Paul Greengard?

Shortly after he was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on transmitters in the brain, Dr. Greengard decided to endow a scientific prize of his own — one most of his fellow Nobel laureates could never even hope to win.

The 2011 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize: Honoring Dr. Brenda Milner for her pioneering work in cognitive neuroscience

Scientific American, October 26, 2011

Tragic it is when a young mother never gets to meet her newborn child; however, it is also awe-inspiring to see a victim of this circumstance rise above and honor his mother’s sacrifice.

The Matriarch of Modern Cancer Genetics: A Conversation with Janet D. Rowley

The New York Times, February 7, 2011

Dr. Janet Davison Rowley, 85, is the matriarch of modern cancer genetics. Without her 1970s finding that broken and translocated chromosomes were a factor in blood cancers, we might not have the treatments for leukemia that are commonplace today.

3 Americans Share Nobel for Medicine

The New York Times, October 5, 2009

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded Monday to three American scientists who solved a problem of cell biology with deep relevance to cancer and aging. The three winners are Elizabeth H. Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco; Carol W. Greider of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Jack W. Szostak of Massachusetts General Hospital.

How Nobel Winners Spend Their Prize Money

TIME, October 10, 2008

American neuroscientist Paul Greengard, a professor at Rockefeller University in New York City, shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other researchers for their discoveries involving the communication of nerve cells — work that paved the way for the eventual development of antidepressants, such as Prozac. Greengard invested the entire sum of his winnings, about $400,000, to establish a new award: the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize.

He Turned His Nobel Into a Prize for Women: A Conversation with Paul Greengard

The New York Times, September 26, 2006

When the neuroscientist Paul Greengard was named one of three winners of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, he decided to use his award — almost $400,000 — to finance something new: the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize.

Scientists May Be on the Road to Making Antidepressants Work Faster

Reader’s Digest, August 18, 2017

Waiting six weeks for antidepressants to kick in can be excruciating for someone who’s really suffering, but science may have a solution.

7 Honest Pieces Of Advice For Scientists From A 90-Year-Old Nobel Laureate

BuzzFeed News, December 18, 2015

Paul Greengard is a Nobel Laureate, a titan in the field of neuroscience, and still spends most weeks in the lab. Last week he turned 90.

A Nobel Laureate Turning 90 Continues to Churn Out Ideas for New Drugs

Scientific American, December 11, 2015

The Greengard Laboratory at The Rockefeller University has published research this year on Alzheimer’s, major depression and Parkinson’s

Scientists identify molecule that could protect against Alzheimer’s disease

Fox News, August 20, 2015

“This finding is significant as it provides an opportunity to create new treatments that will protect the brain by activating the pathway we discovered, which will prevent beta amyloid formation,” Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, director of The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research, said in a news release.

Scientists identify molecule that could protect against Alzheimer’s disease

c & en, July 20, 2015

Blessed with long life, these chemists find intellectual stimulation and satisfaction by working in their 90s and beyond

Memory Serves: Paul Greengard

Crain’s, August 21, 2011

In 2000, Paul Greengard received a Nobel Prize for mapping the biochemical process by which nerve cells communicate. That work is being used in the development of drugs that can intervene when processes go awry and lead to psychiatric or neurological abnormalities.

Aspirin and Prozac Can Mix Badly, Study Says

The Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2011

“Physicians should consider the advantages and disadvantages of giving an anti-inflammatory with the antidepressant depending on how severe the pain is and how depressed they are,” said Paul Greengard, senior author on the paper and head of the molecular and cellular neuroscience lab at Rockefeller.

Drug War: How Advil May Thwart the Benefits of Prozac

TIME, April 25, 2011

“We think this effect is huge,” says study author Paul Greengard, a Nobel laureate and professor of neuroscience at Rockefeller University, noting that the effect of the NSAIDs is comparable to the difference seen in clinical trials between antidepressants and placebo. “It’s possible that there’s a bigger effect than is apparent from these data. It could be a reason that many people are refractory to antidepressant treatment.”

Popular Painkillers Can Impair Antidepressants’ Effectiveness

npr, April 25, 2011

Painkillers like Motrin may interfere with antidepressant medications, making it less likely that someone taking both will get relief from depression.

Why Your Antidepressant May Not Be Working

Fox News, April 25, 2011

In my opinion, the findings that the use of anti-inflammatory may decrease the effectiveness of many antidepressant medications, by Dr. Paul Greengard and his team are very significant, because chronic pain is often a secondary characteristic of many depressive disorders, and the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs is quite high.

Antidepressants, OTC Painkillers Not a Good Combo

Fox News, April 25, 2011

For the study, Warner-Schmidt and Dr. Paul Greengard, a Nobel laureate and director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, treated mice with antidepressants, both in the presence and absence of anti-inflammatory drugs, and then analyzed how the mice behaved in “tasks that are sensitive to antidepressant treatment.”

Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s

Fox News, November 5, 2010

Dr. Paul Greengard is closer than anyone else to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. He invited Dr. Manny into his lab to find out more about his latest discovery which could help to abolish the condition.

Finding Suggests New Aim for Alzheimer’s Drugs

The New York Times, September 1, 2010

In a year when news about Alzheimer’s disease seems to whipsaw between encouraging and disheartening, a new discovery by an 84-year-old scientist has illuminated a new direction.