Dr. Monje’s talk, “Neuron-glial interactions in health and disease: from cognition to cancer,” is part of the Lounsbery Lecture series. These lectures are delivered by winners of the Richard Lounsbery Award—an annual prize given to young (aged 45 and below) French and American scientists to recognize extraordinary scientific achievement in biology and medicine. It is administered in alternate years by the National Academy of Sciences and the French Académie des sciences. 

Dr. Monje, a 2021 recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” award and Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine, earned the Richard Lounsbery award in 2023 for advancing understanding of neuroplasticity mechanisms, pediatric brain cancers, and the neurological effects of cancer treatments.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, “Monje’s pioneering work has fundamentally changed our view about the communication between neurons and glial cells in normal brain function and in neurological disorders, particularly brain cancers.”

Sponsored by the Biology Department and the Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, and co-sponsored by the Cognitive Science Department, and the Center for Career Education.