“Bernie had an enormous impact on the future of the Institute and on Neuroscience at Michigan,” said Mike Sutton, Ph.D., MNI Research Professor and Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology. “Among his many accomplishments, he made the strategic decision to embrace imaging and molecular-based approaches, which at the time, were not current techniques in the MHRI. Now, Michigan is a leader in both areas – Bernie’s vision many years ago is a big reason why.”
Bernie served as the Director of the Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI - a precursor to MNI) from 1983-1995. His legacy still lives on through the institute, as several of Bernie’s faculty recruits are current, longstanding MNI faculty, including Margit Burmeister, Steve Fisher, Dan Goldman, Audrey Seasholtz, Dave Turner, and Mike Uhler. Dr. Agranoff created a vibrant and highly collaborative scientific community that has remained at the core of the current MNI.
This year’s featured speaker was Dr. Richard Tsien, NYU Druckenmiller Professor of Neuroscience, who presented his talk, "Modulating Brain Circuits: A Delicate Balancing Act." Palmer Commons' Forum Hall was filled to capacity for the event, with over 150 neuroscience faculty, staff, and students on hand to hear the renowned neuroscientist. Also in attendance were several of Bernie’s family members, including Bernie’s sons Adam and Will and his grandson Isaac.
“Dr. Tsien was unanimously selected to give the Agranoff lecture for several reasons. Like Bernie, he is recognized for his ground-breaking discoveries in multiple areas of Neuroscience. Dr. Tsien pioneered work on voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, the gatekeepers of activity-dependent signaling in the brain. He is also a leader in synaptic plasticity, discovering Long-Term Potentiation key features and, more recently, homeostatic forms of synaptic plasticity. Dr. Tsien’s work utilizes cutting-edge techniques, another interesting parallel with Bernie’s scientific career.”