Eric Kandel
Who was Eric Kandel?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2000)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Eric Kandel (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Eric Richard Kandel, originally named Erich Richard Kandel, was born on November 7, 1929, in Vienna, Austria, during Europe's political turmoil. His family fled Austria after the 1938 Nazi annexation, settling in the United States. He pursued his education and groundbreaking scientific career there. Kandel went to Erasmus Hall High School and Yeshivah of Flatbush before attending Harvard University for his undergraduate studies. He then continued his medical education at the Grossman School of Medicine and Columbia University, where he would stay connected throughout his life.
Kandel, though initially focused on psychiatry as a doctor, grew more interested in neuroscience, especially the biological mechanisms behind learning and memory. His major work involved studying how memories are stored at the cellular and molecular level in neurons. Over many years, mainly using the sea slug Aplysia californica as a model, he showed how learning affects synaptic connections between neurons. This research unveiled key ideas about synaptic plasticity and the biochemical foundation of memory.
In 2000, Kandel won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, alongside Arvid Carlsson and Paul Greengard, for their discoveries on signal transduction in the nervous system. His specific contribution focused on understanding how memory is stored in neurons. This award recognized his extensive work across psychiatry, neuroscience, and molecular biology. From 1984 to 2022, he was a Senior Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which gave him the support to pursue extensive research projects.
Besides his research, Kandel played a key role in promoting neuroscience. He founded the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University in 1975, which later turned into the Department of Neuroscience. He also held positions as a professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. His influence extended through his writing, like his well-regarded memoir 'In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind,' which won the 2006 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology. He is married to Denise Kandel and remains on the Scientific Council of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
Before Fame
Kandel's early life was deeply affected by the experience of fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria as a child, shaping his later interest in understanding the human mind. After moving to the United States, he first pursued general medical training but became more interested in psychiatry and the biological basis of mental processes. His education led him to top institutions like Harvard University and Columbia University, where he discovered the emerging field of neuroscience.
During the mid-20th century, brain research underwent significant changes as scientists began using molecular biology techniques to explore nervous system function. Kandel entered this field just as these technological advances made it possible to study individual neurons and their biochemical properties. By choosing to focus on simple model organisms like sea slugs instead of more complex mammalian brains, he made a strategic choice that helped him uncover basic principles of learning and memory.
Key Achievements
- Received the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research on memory storage in neurons
- Founded the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University in 1975
- Discovered fundamental mechanisms of synaptic plasticity using Aplysia californica as a model organism
- Served as Senior Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1984 to 2022
- Won the 2006 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for his memoir 'In Search of Memory'
Did You Know?
- 01.He chose to study the sea slug Aplysia californica because it has only about 20,000 neurons compared to the human brain's 100 billion, making it easier to track individual neural connections
- 02.His original birth name was Erich Richard Kandel, which he later anglicized to Eric after immigrating to the United States
- 03.He initially planned to become a psychoanalyst but shifted to biological research after becoming frustrated with the lack of scientific rigor in traditional psychotherapy
- 04.His book 'The Age of the Unconscious' explores connections between neuroscience and art, reflecting his interdisciplinary interests beyond pure scientific research
- 05.He continued working as a Senior Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for 38 years until stepping down in 2022 at age 92
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 2000 | for their discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 1983 | — |
| Grand Officer of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | 2012 | — |
| Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order | 1997 | — |
| Harvey Prize | 1993 | — |
| Canada Gairdner International Award | 1987 | — |
| Wolf Prize in Medicine | 1999 | — |
| Ralph W. Gerard Prize | 1997 | — |
| NAS Award for Scientific Reviewing | 1988 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 1988 | — |
| Dr A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine | 2000 | — |
| Dickson Prize in Medicine | 1983 | — |
| Rosenstiel Award | 1983 | — |
| Karl Spencer Lashley Award | 1981 | — |
| Viktor Frankl Award | 2008 | — |
| Jean-Louis Signoret Prize | 1992 | — |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Neuroscience Research | 1991 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Vienna | 2008 | — |
| Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award for Distinguished Contributions to Neuropsychiatric Research | 1988 | — |
| honorary doctorate of the University of Basel | 2012 | — |
| Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science | — | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |
| Austrian Decoration for Science and Art | 2005 | — |
| honorary doctor of Harvard University | 2008 | — |
| Pour le Mérite | — | — |
| Foreign Member of the Royal Society | 2013 | — |
| Great Immigrants Award | 2009 | — |
| Howard Crosby Warren Medal | 1984 | — |
| Thomas William Salmon Medal | 2003 | — |
| Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria | 2024 | — |