Maiken Nedergaard
Maiken Nedergaard is a Danish neuroscientist who discovered the glymphatic system while working at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is now a professor at University of Copenhagen's Center of Basic and Translational Neuroscience.
Discoveries
In 2010, Nedergaard discovered the role of the adenosine molecule in acupuncture-induced analgesia.[1]
In 2013, Nedergaard discovered the glymphatic system - a network of channels in the brain whose purpose is to eliminate toxins using cerebrospinal fluid. She called it the "glymphatic system" due to its dependence on glial cells.[2] She was awarded the 2014 Newcomb Cleveland Prize for her discovery.[3] The existence of this "glymphatic system" and its potential physiological relevance is still very controversial and has not yet been broadly accepted among her peers.
In 2014, she moved to Copenhagen on a Novo Nordisk Foundation Laureate Research Grant in 2014 where she is now a professor at University of Copenhagen's Center of Basic and Translational Neuroscience.[4]
Awards and honors
- Elected Member, Royal Danish Academy of Sciences (2008–Present)
- Elected Member, Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Spain (2011–Present)
- Elected Member, Academia Europaea (2012–Present)
References
- ↑ Wilkinson, Emma (30 May 2010). "Acupuncture pain molecule pinpointed". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ↑ Konnikova, Maria (11 January 2014). "Goodnight. Sleep Clean.". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
She called it the glymphatic system, a nod to its dependence on glial cells
- ↑ "Paper on Sleep's Restorative Effects Wins 2014 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ↑ "Tre international forskere flytter til København". Novo Nordisk Foundation (in Danish). Retrieved 24 February 2015.