Dr. Ann Graybiel stands as a preeminent authority in neuroscience whose pioneering investigations have profoundly shaped our understanding of brain function and neurological disorders. She currently holds the prestigious position of Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the highest academic honor bestowed by MIT, within the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences where she has been a faculty member since 1973. Trained at Harvard University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry in 1964, she furthered her education with a master's from Tufts University before completing her PhD in psychology and brain science at MIT in 1971 under the guidance of neuroscience pioneers Hans-Lukas Teuber and Walle Nauta. Throughout her distinguished career, she has broken barriers for women in science, co-signing the historic 1994 letter that highlighted gender discrimination at MIT and has held numerous leadership positions including her appointment as Investigator at the MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research in 2001.
Dr. Graybiel's groundbreaking research focused on the basal ganglia, particularly the striatum, which was largely overlooked by scientists during the early stages of her career. Her innovative staining techniques revealed the striatum's sophisticated architecture with column-like modules now known as striosomes, demonstrating that this brain region was not a homogenous mass but possessed a complex neurochemical organization. This seminal discovery established the foundation for understanding how basal ganglia structures regulate movement, habit formation, and cognitive processes, with profound implications for treating Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addiction. Her work mapping the selective connectivity between striosomes and dopamine-containing neurons in the substantia nigra has provided critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and has guided therapeutic approaches for millions of patients worldwide.
Beyond her research achievements, Dr. Graybiel has been instrumental in shaping the neuroscience community through her mentorship of generations of scientists and her leadership roles in numerous professional organizations. She has served on the scientific advisory boards of prestigious institutions including the Stockholm Brain Institute, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, International Brain Research Organization, and Hereditary Disease Foundation, helping to guide research priorities across the global neuroscience community. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, her influence extends across disciplinary boundaries to inform both scientific and medical practice. Currently, her laboratory continues to investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of striosomal dysfunction in neurological disorders, with the goal of developing novel therapeutic approaches that address the underlying causes rather than merely treating symptoms of these debilitating conditions.
