19 Nov 08

Professor Leslie Iversen's accomplishments include pioneering analysis of neurotransmitter defects in schizophrenia, Huntington’s chorea, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Leslie Iversen of the University of Oxford has received the Julius Axelrod Prize during Neuroscience 2008, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. The $25,000 prize recognises distinguished achievements in neuropharmacology and exemplary efforts in mentoring young scientists.

‘Dr Iversen is an outstanding neuropharmacologist and internationally recognized for his fundamental contributions to the understanding of neurotransmission,’ said Eve Marder, President of the Society for Neuroscience.

Professor Iversen has made numerous discoveries that have transformed the understanding of chemical neurotransmission in the mammalian brain, and provided new insight into the ways that drugs influence synaptic function. His work has implications for drug discovery and therapeutics. His accomplishments include pioneering analysis of neurotransmitter defects in schizophrenia, Huntington’s chorea, and Alzheimer’s disease.

During his 45-year career, Professor Iversen has trained more than 100 students and postdoctoral fellows. Since 1995, he has served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford.

The Society for Neuroscience is an organisation of more than 38,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system. The Julius Axelrod Prize is supported by Eli Lilly & Co.