Rhythm Master

Joseph Takahashi ’74, a noted neuroscientist, was recently awarded the 2019 Gruber Neuroscience Prize for his pioneering work on the molecular and genetic basis of circadian rhythms in mammals.

Takahashi, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, is perhaps best known for his team’s discovery of the Clock gene in mice, which is a master regulator of circadian rhythms in mammals.

The award citation recognizes how Takahashi’s “use of innovative approaches to observe clock oscillations throughout the body in real time has revealed the broader impact of the circadian system in regulating the timing of cellular events in health and disease.”

Presented by the Gruber Foundation, the Neuroscience Prize honors scientists for major discoveries that have advanced the understanding of the nervous system, and includes a $500,000 unrestricted cash award.