Discussion with Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel

Earlier today I had the wonderful opportunity to sit at a round table discussion with Dr Eric Kandel, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and author of the most comprehensive text on the brain to date.   An articulate and humorous man, Kandel provided grand insight into where the field of neuroscience has come, and where it remains to go.

I was able to pry my jaw from the floor and begin taking notes when the subject turned from his relationship with Austria (from which he fled at age 11 to escape the Nazi occupation) to a discussion on neural decoding.  Quick to remind us this was not his area and expert opinions could surely be found elsewhere at the conference, he noted on the dynamics of the neuroscience community.

"There are fads and trends in neuroscience," commented Kandel, "but we are moving from cellular and molecular understanding towards a systems approach.  What we really want to understand is the logic of the transformation of information between neurons."  When asked where the most significant advances in schizophrenia would likely be seen, he said "Ten years ago, I would have said genetics.  Anymore, I'm not so certain.

"The biggest concern with neurologic diseases like schizophrenia is public perception.  Many people are struck with cancer late in life.  Schizophrenia occurs in adolesence.  People are stuck with this the rest of their life."

When asked about the challenges in neuroscience research, Kandel asserted,

"It's no secret that financial support is the biggest issue we face in this country.  People don't realize that science is not just medicine.  Science is the driver of economic growth.  It is what allows us to move into the future.  Public health is a burden on society because we have yet to fully understand nature.  This is something we can overcome."

Dr Kandel is giving the Presidential Special Lecture tonight at SfN, titled On the Perpetuation of Long-Term Memory.