Who won the Brain Prize in 2025?

The 2025 Brain Prize was awarded to neuro-oncologists Michelle Monje (Stanford Medicine) and Frank Winkler (Heidelberg University) for pioneering Cancer Neuroscience, a field revealing how neurons drive brain tumor growth by forming synapses with cancer cells, offering new therapeutic targets. Their work established that glioma cells hijack neural circuits, promoting tumor progression, a discovery now leading to novel treatments.

How much is the brain prize?

The Brain Prize 10 million DKK (approx. 1,3 million €) is a personal research prize awarded annually by the Lundbeck Foundation.

Who are the parents of Michelle Monje?

Michelle Monje in her own words. With my mother Susan Monje and my maternal grandmother Hilda Linde. I was raised alone by my wonderful mother Susan, after my father fell ill when I was very young. My maternal grandparents Hilda and Abe were very involved and visited often, sometimes living with or near us.

Has a neuroscientist ever won a Nobel Prize?

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014. Neuroscientist May-Britt Moser persisted in a decades-long quest to understand how the brain worked at a cellular level. She persevered through a series of challenges – from a reluctant PhD advisor to the birth of two daughters – with a stubborn sense of purpose.

What is the brain prize for DKFZ?

The award, which is endowed with more than one million euros, will be presented by the Danish King Frederik X in Copenhagen on May 28, 2025. With the Brain Prize 2025, the Danish Lundbeck Foundation honors the groundbreaking research of the scientifically and clinically engaged neurologist Frank Winkler.

The Brain Prize 2025 Portraits: Michelle Monje & Frank Winkler

What is 75% of your brain?

"75% of your brain" refers to its composition, as the human brain is approximately 75% water, making proper hydration crucial for cognitive function, neurotransmitter activity, and overall mental sharpness, with even mild dehydration negatively impacting focus and memory. The other significant component is fat (lipids), while the remaining parts are proteins, sugars, and other essential nutrients, highlighting that the brain relies heavily on water to perform its complex signaling and processing tasks.
 

What is the theme for Brain Awareness Week 2025?

Dementia Understand Together and the HSE Brain Awareness Week theme, 'Focus on the Brain' reminds us of just how amazing our brains are and how important it is to look after them.

Who is the top 1 neurosurgeon in the world?

There's no single "world #1" neurosurgeon as rankings are subjective and depend on specialization (e.g., spine, tumors, pediatrics), but leading figures often cited include Dr. Philip E. Stieg (Weill Cornell), pioneers like Dr. A.K. Banerji (India), specialists such as Dr. K. Daniel Riew (cervical spine), and globally recognized names like Dr. Henry Marsh, while hospitals like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and New York-Presbyterian rank highly.
 

Has Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize?

The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to United States president Barack Obama (b. 1961) for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".

How does Dr. Monje study DIPG?

Monje started to create and share cell cultures of patients' DIPG cells that could be studied in labs. In this study, she and her colleagues used cell cultures collected from 16 patients in the United States and Europe to search for drugs that could kill or stop the growth of DIPG cells.

What recent breakthroughs has Dr. Monje made?

Her lab discovered that neuronal activity similarly promotes the progression of malignant gliomas, driving glioma growth through both paracrine factors and through electrophysiologically functional neuron-to-glioma synapses.

What is Dr. Monje known for?

Pediatric brain tumors are notoriously difficult to treat.

Visionary scientist and clinician Dr. Michelle Monje discovered that one such cancer, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), is physically and electrically integrated, hijacking the brain's normal circuitry to fuel the cancer's rapid growth.

How long after death can a brain be donated?

How long after death can a decision to donate be made? Brain donations must be performed within 24 hours from the time of death in order to ensure optimal preservation of the tissue and maximize the research value.

Do neuroscientists make good money?

Yes, neuroscience can pay well, especially in advanced research, clinical, or tech-related roles, with average salaries often above the national average, but it varies significantly with education (Master's/PhD often required for higher pay), experience, location, and specific job (e.g., research scientist, data analyst, or specialized clinical roles). While entry-level positions might start modestly, senior roles in research or industry offer strong earning potential. 

What if I use 100% of my brain?

In debunking the ten percent myth, Knowing Neurons editor Gabrielle-Ann Torre writes that using all of one's brain would not be desirable either. Such unfettered activity would almost certainly trigger an epileptic seizure.

Who won the Nobel Prize 3 times?

Three Nobel Prize winners include Marie Curie (Physics & Chemistry), Albert Einstein (Physics for the photoelectric effect), and recent laureates like Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and K. Barry Sharpless (Chemistry 2022) or Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond, and Philip Dybvig (Economics 2022). The Nobel Prizes recognize significant advancements in Science, Literature, Peace, and Economics, with many individuals achieving this honor, some even multiple times, like Marie Curie, the only person to win in two different sciences. 

Who has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Donald Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations from various figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Representatives like Claudia Tenney, Buddy Carter, and Anna Paulina Luna, and even countries like Cambodia, largely for brokering the Abraham Accords and recent Middle East peace efforts, though nominations occur for different years. 

Why didn't Einstein win a Nobel Prize?

By this time, Einstein had a decade's worth of Nobel nominations behind him. Yet each year, to mounting criticism, the committee decided against his work on the grounds that relativity was unproven.

What is the riskiest brain surgery?

The "most serious" brain surgery often refers to emergency procedures like a craniectomy (removing part of the skull to relieve life-threatening pressure from swelling after injury/stroke) or complex operations for deep tumors (brainstem, skull base), vascular issues (aneurysms), or epilepsy, where proximity to critical nerves and blood vessels makes them extremely high-risk, demanding specialized neurosurgical skill.
 

Who is the best brain doctor in the world?

10 Best Neurosurgeons in the World

• Dr. G Balamurali. MBBS, MRCS (Ed), MD (UK), FRCS (Neurosurgery) ...
• Dr. Ralf Buhl. 20 Years of Experience. ...
• Dr. Gerardo Conesa Bertran. 30+ Years of Experience. ...
• Dr. Pietro Mortini. 32 Years of Experience. ...
• Dr. Akin Akakin. 19 Years of Experience. ...
• Dr. Bartolomé Oliver. ...
• Dr. Philip E. ...
• Dr. Jurgen Kiwit.

Can a neurosurgeon make $1 million a year?

Yes, many neurosurgeons can earn $1 million or more annually, especially experienced specialists in high-demand areas like spine or vascular surgery, or those in private practices with high patient volumes, though starting salaries are lower, and figures vary significantly by location and subspecialty. While the median is often near $900k-$1M, top earners in lucrative markets or niche fields can reach well over $1 million, sometimes even $2M+, with some offers for new graduates hitting $1M+ with bonuses and call pay. 

What are the three superfoods for your brain?

The three best food groups for brain health, according to dietary patterns like the MIND diet and Harvard Health, are leafy greens, fatty fish, and berries, providing essential nutrients like Vitamin K, omega-3s, and antioxidants that support memory, focus, and slow cognitive decline. These are cornerstones of diets rich in whole foods that benefit long-term brain function.
 

What are the 5 C's of mental health?

The 5 C's of mental health provide a framework for well-being, often cited as Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring, though variations exist like Clarity, Coping, Calmness, Community, and Compassion; they emphasize building resilience by feeling capable (Competence), believing in yourself (Confidence), having supportive relationships (Connection/Community), acting ethically (Character), and showing empathy for self/others (Caring/Compassion/Coping). Nurturing these areas helps manage stress, improve relationships, and foster personal growth.
 

What not to say to someone with a TBI?

Avoid saying things that minimize their injury ("you look fine"), compare their struggles to minor forgetfulness ("I forget things too"), pressure them ("you need to move on"), or express frustration ("how many times do I have to tell you?") because brain injury symptoms are often invisible and memory/cognitive issues are real, not laziness; instead, be patient, offer concrete help, and focus on their strengths.