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| 1996
Award for Education in Neuroscience |
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Dr.
Eugene Streicher
 Dr.
Eugene Streicher, codirector of NINDS' Division of Fundamental
Neurosciences and Developmental Disorders (DFNDD), recently retired
after 46 years of government service, 43 of those with NIH.
"Gene Streicher represents the very
best of NIH," said NINDS director Dr. Zach Hall. "When I was a
young investigator and had grant trouble, someone said to me 'Call Gene
Streicher, he will help you.' And he did. That story-multiplied a
hundred times-explains Gene Streicher's impact on neuroscience research,
and the remarkable esteem in which he is held by several generations of
neuroscientists."
A native of Brooklyn, Streicher earned his
B.A. and M.A. degrees from Cornell University in 1947 and 1948
respectively, and his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Chicago
in 1953.
His government career began with military
service in the U.S. navy from 1945 to 1946. In 1948, he served in the
medical division of the Army Chemical Corps as a physiologist. He began
his NIH career in 1954 as an NIMH research physiologist, later joining
NINDB (now NINDS) in 1962. There, he served first in the clinical
neuropathology section of the intramural program an since 1964 in the
extramural program. He was appointed director of the Division of
fundamental Neurosciences (now DFNDD) in 1979.
"The scope of the effect that Gene
has had on basic neuroscience research as well asl clinical neuroscience
research as well as clinical neuroscience research is
immeasurable," said Dr. Don Jeweett, professor emeritus at the
University of California, San Francisco, in an open letter to the
institute. Streicher's division supported Jewett's work on the basic
physiology of the auditory pathway of the brainstem, which has led to
improvements in testing hearing in infants. Streicher also lent early
support to the Neural Prosthesis Program, which has helped individuals
with paralysis and sensory impairments.
"The outstanding basic neuroscience
that he fostered led to wonderful advance in clinical
neuroscience," said Dr. Charlotte McCutchen, NINDS medical officer
and health scientist administrator.
In his most recent position as DFNDD
codirector, he led a program of research grants, contracts and
fellowships that supports basic research in fundamental, cellular,
molecular and systems neuroscience and in basic disciplines such as
neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, developmental
neurobiology and neurogenetics.
"As division director in both tough
times and good times, Gene has provided a steady and fair had in guiding
the development of NINDS extramural support in the fundamental
neurosciences," said Dr. Robert Baughman, DFNDD acting director.
"His integrity, thoughtfulness, lively sense of humor, and above
all his kindness and supportiveness, especially for young investigators
is legendary. Over the years his list of grantees is a who's who of the
founders and bright young stars of neuroscience."
Streicher has memberships in many
professional societies including the Society of Experimental Biology and
Medicine, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the
American Association of Neuropathologists, and the Society of
Neuroscience.
Among the many honors and achievements he
has garnered throughout his career, Streicher recently received the
annual Education Award of the Association of Neuroscience Departments
and Programs for his outstanding contributions as a mentor, advising and
developing the careers of neuroscientists, and as a representative of
institutions that help advance neuroscience research.
"He is a quiet man who does things
in a quiet way, but with a tremendous impact," McCutchen said.
In fact, if it had been left up to
Streicher, he would have retired quietly as well, with no fanfare.
However, this was not to be. Friends, family, grantees-past and
present-and colleagues made up the standing-room-only-crowd in a
conference room of the Federal Building recently to pay tribute to
"probably one of the most loved people inthe institute,"
according to McCutchen, who has worked with Streicher for six years.
"The room was filled with love and laughter as we shared memories
of working with Gene. He is a wonderful man-a rare breed."
Streicher's immediate retirement plans
include traveling with his wife to Montana and China.
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