The Peter Shrager Award

Named in honor of Professor Peter Shrager, this award is presented at the annual Neuroscience Retreat to a URMC faculty member for their commitment to exceptional service to the Rochester Neuroscience Community.

Recipients

2025

Douglas Portman, Ph.D.

• Professor - Departments of Biomedical Genetics and Neuroscience
• Research Interest: Neural circuit development and function; Genetic control of behavior; Sex differences in neurobiology

2024

J. Christopher Holt, Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience
• Research Interest: Synaptic pharmaco-physiology of vestibular efferent-afferent interactions

2023

M. Kerry O'Banion, M.D., Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience
• Research Interest: Defining neuro-inflammatory processes that contribute to pathology and disease progression in Alzheimer's disease, as well as late CNS effects following radiation

2022

William O'Neill, Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience
• Research Interest: Processing of complex acoustic signals in the central auditory system; echolocation; aging effects on central auditory system

2021

Ania Majewska, Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience
• Research Interest: Glia-neuron interactions during synaptic plasticity in health and disease

2020

Tatiana Pasternak, Ph.D.

• Professor Emeritus - Department of Neuroscience 
• Scientific Review Officer- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

2019

Gary D. Paige, M.D., Ph.D.

• Professor Emeritus - Department of Neurology 
• Professor Emeritus - Department of Neuroscience 
• Professor - Department of Center for Visual Science
• Professor Emeritus - Department of Ophthalmology
• Research Interest: Visual, vestibular, and adaptive control of spacial orientation and balance.

2018

John A. Olschowka, Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience 
• Research Interest:  Mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration within the CNS, primarily Glial Cells and Vascular components of the brain.

2017

Peter G. Shrager, Ph.D.

• Professor - Department of Neuroscience 
• Professor - Department of Pharmacology and Physiology 
• Professor Shrager has more than 45 years of experience in biophysics and electrophysiology, with an emphasis on ion-channels, signal generation, propagation and transmission. He has successfully mentored graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have progressed to excellent research careers.