the sixth

Abraham SpectorPrize Lecture

recipients of the abraham spector prize

2006 | Arne Holmgren, PhD

2008 | Steven L. Knight, PhD

2010 | Inder Verma, PhD

2012 | Cynthia Kenyon, PhD

2014 | Clifford Tabin, PhD

1 p.m. | Thursday, December 1, 2016

keynote / guest speaker

David J. Anderson, PhDCalifornia Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Education CenterColumbia University Medical Center

the sixth

Abraham Spector Prize LectureA 47-year relationship with Columbia University began soon after Abraham Spector, PhD, arrived from Harvard University in 1965. He was promoted to Professor of Ophthalmic Biochemistry in 1973 and served as Research Director of the Department of Ophthalmology for one year in 1989, and later from 1996 until his retirement in 2004. A recipient of the 1996 Malcom P. Aldrich Research Professorship, Dr. Spector became Professor Emeritus in 2004. As a longtime leader in the eye research field, he served the NEI as Chairman of the Board of Scientific Advisors, the National Plan, and the Visual Science Study Section. He was president of ARVO and a visiting professor at universities far and wide.

Dr. Spector’s laboratory was internationally recognized for its work on the lens of the eye. The group’s work covered a number of areas related to the proteins of the lens, aging, transparency, the mechanism of cataract formation, metabolism and cell biology of the lens and more recently, oxidative stress as a major cause of cataract. Other investigations focused on approaches to prevent cataract and other oxidative stress related eye diseases. His research earned him many awards including Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships, the Proctor Medal of ARVO, honorary doctorates, as well as significant research awards. Dr. Spector passed away in April 2016.

g u e s t s p e a k e r sLisa Stower, PhDProfessorDepartment of Molecular and

Cellular NeuroscienceThe Scripps Research Institute

Thomas R. Clandinin, PhDShooter Family Professor and

ChairDepartment of NeurobiologyStanford University

C. Daniel Salzman, MD, PhDProfessorDepartments of Psychiatry and

NeuroscienceColumbia University

k ey not e spe a k er : David J. Anderson, PhD Dr. Anderson is the Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, and Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received his AB from Harvard University (Biochemical Sciences, summa cum laude), his PhD in Cell Biology from Rockefeller University where he trained with Nobel Laureate Guenter Blobel, and his postdoctoral training at Columbia University with Nobel Laureate Richard Axel. He has been at the forefront of developing and applying new technologies for neural circuit manipulation, such as optogenetics and pharmacogenetics, to the study of emotional behaviors in both mice and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

abraham spector prize lecture and symposiumsponsoring departments: Ophthalmology and Neuroscience

symposium: abraham spector, phd tribute and celebration of life

m o d e r at o r : David J. Anderson, PhD

1–1:15 p.m. Welcome George (Jack) Cioffi, MD, Chair of Ophthalmology Steven A. Siegelbaum, PhD, Chair of Neuroscience

guest speakers1:15–1:40 p.m. Lisa Stower, PhD

“Leveraging Olfaction to Identify Mechanisms Regulating Social Behavior”

1:40–1:50 p.m. Discussion1:50–2:15 p.m. Thomas R. Clandinin, PhD

“Dissecting Visual Computation in Drosophila”

2:15–2:25 p.m. Discussion2:25–2:50 p.m. C. Daniel Salzman, MD, PhD

“The Genesis of Cognitive Processing in the Amygdala”

2:50–3 p.m. Discussion3–3:15 p.m. Intermission

The cafeteria is located on the first floor

abraham spector prize lecture

3:15–3:20 p.m. Ode to Abe Spector Stanley Chang, MD

3:20–3:30 p.m. Introduction of Key Note Speaker Xin Zhang, PhD

3:30–4:30 p.m. Spector Prize Lecture David J. Anderson, PhD

“Neural Circuitry of Emotional Behaviors in Flies and Mice”

4:30–4:45 p.m. Abraham Spector Prize Presentation George A. Cioffi, MD

5–6:30 p.m. Reception and Tribute The reception will be held on the 4th Floor, room VEC 401

Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center, 104 Haven Avenue, VEC 201, New York, NY 10032