Huda Zoghbi delivers Scolnick lecture

Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience

About the Prize

The Scolnick Prize is awarded annually by the McGovern Institute to recognize outstanding advances in the field of neuroscience. The prize is named in honor of Edward M. Scolnick, who stepped down as president of Merck Research Laboratories in December 2002 after holding Merck’s top research post for 17 years. Scolnick is now at the Broad Institute, where he established the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. He also served as a member of the McGovern Institute’s scientific advisory board. The prize, which is endowed through a gift from Merck to the McGovern Institute, consists of a $200,000 award, plus an inscribed gift.

The winner of the 2023 Scolnick Prize is UC Berkeley neurobiologist Yang Dan.

Call for Nominations

The 2023 nomination deadline has passed.

Candidates for the award must be nominated by individuals affiliated with universities, hospitals, medicals schools, or research institutes, with a background in neuroscience. Self-nomination is not permitted. Each nomination should include:

  • A biosketch or CV of the nominee;
  • A letter of nomination with a summary and analysis of the major contributions of the nominee to the field of neuroscience.
  • Up to two representative reprints will be accepted.
  • Email nomination packet to Gayle Lutchen  or mail to:

Attn: Scolnick Prize Nomination
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue 46-3160
Cambridge, MA 02139