David Julius
David Julius, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at UCSF, has won two major awards: one from Unilever, one of the world's largest producers of consumer products, and the other from the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT.
Julius received the 2007 Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience on May 21. It is awarded each year by the McGovern Institute to recognize an individual who has made outstanding advances in the field of neuroscience. He received the prize for his discovery of the molecular receptors for temperature and inflammatory pain.
"David Julius has transformed our understanding of temperature perception and pain," says McGovern Institute Director Robert Desimone. "His work is of great importance for basic neuroscience and medicine, and we are very pleased to honor his groundbreaking contributions through this award."
Julius was also chosen for the Unilever Science Prize by a panel of distinguished scientists for his work on the molecular understanding of how humans sense temperature. He received the prize on May 9 from Patrick Cescau, Unilever's group chief executive, at Unilever's Vitality Symposium in Vlaardingen, Netherlands.
The Unilever Science Prize is offered to an outstanding scientist - in the field of life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, nutrition science, medicine or combinations thereof - whose work contributes to Unilever's mission to add vitality to life.
Julius identified and characterized the receptors for capsaicin, the pungent ingredient in hot chili peppers, and for the cooling compound menthol. These receptors are also activated by hot or cold temperatures, respectively, thereby revealing a unifying mechanism as to how the peripheral nervous system detects temperature.
His research has a major impact on elucidating pathways that contribute to acute and chronic pain, especially in the context of tissue injury and inflammation. This, in turn, can lead to novel targets for the design of analgesic drugs.
Last year, Julius was honored by the Academic Senate at UCSF as the 49th Annual Faculty Research Lecturer for his outstanding scientific achievements.
Related Links:
Unilever Press Release
McGovern Institute Press Release
UCSF Academic Senate
Julius Lab
Tarantula Venom and Chili Peppers Target Same Pain Sensor
UCSF News Release, November 8, 2006
