Pollina honored for innovations in neuroscience
MIND Prize funds research into neurodegenerative diseases
Elizabeth Pollina, PhD, of WashU Medicine, has received the 2025 MIND Prize supporting neuroscience research.
Elizabeth Pollina, PhD, an assistant professor of developmental biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2025 MIND Prize from the Pershing Square Foundation. The MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize funds research by early- to mid-career investigators who are making innovative and cutting-edge contributions to the understanding, prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
One of six investigators to receive the award this year, Pollina will receive $250,000 annually for three years to support her research. Established in 2006, the Pershing Square Foundation supports innovative work in the life sciences, education, economic development, social justice, health and medicine — including neuroscience and cancer research.
Pollina’s team is focused on uncovering genome protection mechanisms that safeguard vulnerable cell types from aging and degeneration. This funding will support the development of molecular tools and animal models to identify new ways to prevent or repair DNA damage across the brain’s diverse cell types. Her team is also interested in understanding the impact of sleep on the genome and how sleep loss, especially in early adolescence and middle age, may contribute to age-dependent decline and dementia later in life. Future goals include investigating the role of other lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, on genome damage and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases over the lifespan.
