Nation's highest science honor goes to UM neuroscientist
The University of Michigan's Huda Akil has won the National Medal of Science for her groundbreaking work in neuroscience. Congratulations on this incredible achievement!
https://record.umich.edu/articles/neuroscientist-huda-akil-wins-national-medal-of-science/
Huda Akil, a University of Michigan neuroscientist who has explored the brain’s secrets for more than 50 years, has been awarded the National Medal of Science — the nation’s highest scientific honor.
She received the award Oct. 24, at a White House ceremony with President Joe Biden, for her contributions to the understanding of depression, anxiety, addiction and more. Akil’s work delves deep into the genes, proteins and cells that help govern human emotions and moods, and responses to pleasure and pain.
Akil is the Gardner C. Quarton Distinguished University Professor of Neurosciences, the Gardner C. Quarton Collegiate Professor of Neurosciences and a professor of psychiatry in the Medical School, and a research professor in the Michigan Neuroscience Institute.
Her time in America led her to her husband Stanley Watson. Their relationship blossomed while both studied at Stanford, and they later settled in Ann Arbor where they have lived for 45 years.
“University of Michigan always felt right in that it has very high standards of excellence, but it’s also very inclusive and very broad,” she said.
Watson and Akil have been, and continue to be, active scientific collaborators. He is a psychiatry professor at the Medical School and also a research professor at the institute.
As a child she was struck by the fact that Marie Curie collaborated with her husband, and won one of her Nobel Prizes with him, she said.
“It was a dream of mine to marry somebody that I could work with,” Akil said. “It was so weird that it actually happened that way.”
October 30th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
Congratulations!
October 30th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Can’t take this message board anywhere these days. Congratulations to her on this award! She’s earned it!
October 30th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
That's an amazing honor. Congratulations to her! And to her collaborators over a storied career.
Also, she helped Stallions crack the OSU codes, so there is that.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
If we're lucky most of us will get a watch and a pat on the back when our work is done. I cannot fathom the laurels that come from meaningful work people truly devote their lives to. This must feel incredible.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
Joe Rogan should have her on.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
on his Podcast. It's called The Joe Rogan Experience. Maybe that wasn't clear.
October 30th, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
It was clear, Joe Rogan is a stain on the world and has no relevance here. I hope that clarifies everything.
October 30th, 2023 at 7:35 PM ^
Perhaps you're thinking of someone else. He has a very popular podcast, available on most platforms. I think maybe a deal with Spotify. He has interviewed many smart people. And this was a joke thanks for falling for it.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
I was working on a "she stole the signals from an OSU neuroscientist." But that diminishes her accomplishment. Huda Akil is what makes Michigan great.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
"OSU neuroscientist"
*snort*
October 30th, 2023 at 1:15 PM ^
It's a well deserved honor, and I feel honored and privileged that she was my "grand-PI" (my grad school PI's PI).
October 30th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Having graduated U of M med school in 1993, professors like Dr. Akil are what make the med school experience at Michigan so special. I'm currently in Reno, NV and work with the med school at the University of Nevada-Reno. While the kids are really bright, get great instruction and become really great physicians, the difference between UNR Med and a place like Michigan is your exposure to some of the physicians and researchers who are really world class. When I was at Michigan, learning from people like Dr. Jeremiah Turcotte (liver transplant pioneer), Dr. Robert Bartlett (ECMO) and Dr. Francis Collins (CF gene and future NIH director) is the kind of thing that just sticks with you. Congrats Dr. Akil and Go Blue!
October 30th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Michigan is good at everything.
October 30th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
We are the best University in the world
October 30th, 2023 at 6:19 PM ^
Students and athletes and professors, achieving at the highest level
October 30th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
Amy Farrah Fowler ?
October 30th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Tremendous recognition - another example of the Leaders and Best.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
Huda is the perfect example of the kind of story that makes the good ole U.S.A. the greatest country in the world.
Hopefully in the future, girls that grow up in Lebanon and Syria will have the opportunities that she has had.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
Exactly right. It is amazing how many people forget that this is a country founded on immigrants.
October 30th, 2023 at 3:42 PM ^
“University of Michigan always felt right in that it has very high standards of excellence, but it’s also very inclusive and very broad,” she said.
This.
Go, Blue!
October 30th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
Meanwhile OSU's fanbase thinks it's amazing that they can spell OSU with their arms.
October 30th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
These are the same throngs who flock to Value City Arena in the winter, and can hardly wait to watch their team play on “Safelite Field” in the fall.
October 30th, 2023 at 4:55 PM ^
Don’t forget, there are other words that you cannot spell without OSU…
October 30th, 2023 at 5:27 PM ^
They'd try "university" with their arms but they don't know how to spell that yet.
October 30th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
Hail!
October 30th, 2023 at 8:02 PM ^
That deserves a limerick!
There once was a UM prof named Judi Akil
Who received a major award on Capital Hill
Because she's reserved
She was a little unnerved
But said, I'm not gonna lie, it's quite a thrill
Go Blue