#None #Erin Schuman #Nakasone Award #Neuroplasticity

Erin M. Schuman Honored with the 2026 Nakasone Award

Strasbourg, France – July 9, 2025 – The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) proudly announces the recipient of the 2026 HFSP Nakasone Award, Dr. Erin M. Schuman. Recognized for her exceptional contributions to the understanding of neural synapse function and their alterations during memory formation, Schuman's research has significantly impacted the field of neuroscience.

Dr. Schuman's revolutionary findings indicate that key proteins responsible for neuronal communication, synaptic plasticity, and memory storage are produced locally at synapses. This paradigm-shifting insight challenges the long-held belief that all proteins are manufactured in the cell body and subsequently transported to the synapses. By demonstrating that synthesis occurs at the synapse, Schuman has opened new avenues for research focusing on individual synaptic functions rather than entire neurons.

Pavel Kabat, the HFSPO Secretary-General, remarked, "We are delighted to honor Dr. Erin Schuman. Her revelation is shaping the neuroscience discipline, with an increasing emphasis on individual synapses rather than whole neurons. This is the essence of the Nakasone Award, which celebrates pioneers who push the boundaries of entire fields."

Established in 2010, the HFSP Nakasone Award recognizes scientists who have made pivotal advances in cutting-edge areas within the life sciences. The award reflects the vision of the former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who established the International Human Frontier Science Program following a 1987 letter from G7 leaders.

Dr. Erin Schuman currently serves as the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany. Transitioning from her faculty position at the California Institute of Technology, she joined the Max Planck Society in 2009. A native of the United States, Schuman is a member of prominent scientific organizations, including EMBO, the U.S. and German National Academies of Sciences, and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom.

Her research has garnered numerous accolades, including the Brain Prize in 2023 and the Körber European Science Prize in 2024. Additionally, she holds faculty positions in Biology at Goethe University, Frankfurt, and lectures on Synaptic Function and Plasticity at the Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour and Radboud University in the Netherlands.

For comprehensive information about Dr. Schuman’s discoveries, academic roles, and citations, refer to the official HFSP description of the 2026 Nakasone Award. For media inquiries or to schedule interviews, please contact Rachael Bishop, Science Writer and Editor, at +33 (0)7 81 87 62 21 or via email at [email protected].