In a remarkable acknowledgment of his groundbreaking research on synaptic plasticity and its potential applications in treating conditions like autism and amblyopia, Mark Bear, Picower Professor at MIT, has been awarded the 2023 Julius Axelrod Prize by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). The accolade recognizes Bear’s outstanding contributions to the field of neuropharmacology and his exemplary efforts in mentoring young scientists.
The Julius Axelrod Prize, endowed by the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, includes a $30,000 prize and a special invitation to the SfN’s annual meeting in Washington. Mark Bear, along with co-recipient Raymond Dingledine of Emory University, was honored at the event and is set to deliver the keynote address at a National Institutes of Health symposium next spring.
SfN highlighted Bear’s pivotal role in advancing the understanding of experience-dependent plasticity in the mammalian brain. His research, particularly on how NMDA receptors trigger long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the cortex, has been transformative. The properties of LTD and LTP, identified as ‘metaplastic,’ have proven essential for the development of the visual cortex.
Bear’s work took a groundbreaking turn with the revelation that excess protein synthesis downstream of the glutamate receptor mGlu5 is a core driver of synaptic, circuit, and behavioral dysfunction seen in Fragile X Syndrome, a leading monogenic cause of autism. This insight has revolutionized the medical understanding of developmental brain disorders, leading to numerous clinical trials.
The Society for Neuroscience commended Bear not only for his groundbreaking research but also for his exceptional mentorship. Eighteen of his 35 former postdoctoral researchers and 11 of his former PhD students are now in tenure track positions, a testament to his positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic approach to science.
Delighted and honored to receive the award, Mark Bear expressed the meaningfulness of the recognition for mentorship. He emphasized the satisfaction derived from helping students mature into outstanding scientists and the pride he holds for their significant contributions to brain plasticity studies.
Bear also highlighted the personal significance of receiving an award commemorating Julius Axelrod, whose groundbreaking studies on neurotransmitters influenced Bear’s own early research.
