O’Leary Lecture

Each year, a former recipient of the James L. O’Leary Prize for Research in Neuroscience competition is invited to present the annual O’Leary Lecture, and also be a guest judge at the prize competition.

Background

Dr. James L. O’Leary joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy at Washington University in 1928 and, in 1941, was jointly appointed as Assistant Professor of Neurology. He served in the United States Medical Corps  at Mason General Hospital in New York where he taught neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and electroencephalography, then was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He returned to Washington University and became head of Neurology in 1946, remaining until 1971. For many years, Dr. O’Leary and colleagues extensively studied nerve physiology, pain mechanisms, and the clinical and electroencephalographic aspects of epilepsy. He and his Washington University colleagues developed an interdisciplinary and interactive approach to the study of the nervous system that continues today.  

Source: Becker Archives Database

View the list of past O’Leary Competition winners.

A history of past O’Leary lecturers

2024	Joseph Castellano, PhD	2011 winner (Graduate student, David Holtzman lab (WashU Neurology))
2023	Terrance Kummer, MD, PhD	2003 winner (Graduate student, Josh Sanes lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2022	Jeff Mumm, PhD	2000 winner (Graduate student, Raphael Kopan lab (WashU Molecular Biology & Pharmacology))
2021	Paul Kotzbauer, MD,PhD	1996 winner (Graduate student, Jeffrey Milbrandt lab (WashU Pathology) and Eugene Johnson lab (WashU Neurology))
2020	Robert Burgess, PhD	2001 winner (Postdoc, Joshua Sanes lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2019	Eric Leuthardt, MD	2004 winner (Postdoc, Dan Moran lab (WashU Biomedical Engineering))
2018	Catherine Collins, PhD	2006 winner (Postdoc, Aaron DiAntonio lab (WashU Molecular Biology & Pharmacology))
2017	John Fryer, PhD	2005 winner (Graduate student, David Holtzman lab (WashU Neurology))
2016	Malu Tansey, PhD	2000 winner (Postdoc, Eugene Johnson lab (WashU Neurology))
2015	Jeffrey Neil, MD, PhD	1984 winner (Graduate student, Arthur Loewy lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2014	Steve Mennerick, PhD	1994 winner (Graduate student, Charles Zorumski lab (WashU Psychiatry))
2013	Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD	1991 winner (Graduate student, James Krause lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2012	Maria Donoghue, PhD	1992 winner (Graduate student, John Merlie lab (WashU Molecular Biology & Pharmacology) and Joshua Sanes (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2011	Randy Buckner, PhD	1995 winner (Graduate student, Steve Petersen lab (WashU Neurology))
2010	Jonathan Mink, MD, PhD	1987 winner (Graduate student, Tom Thach lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2009	Tom Carmichael, MD, PhD	1993 winner (Graduate student, Joel Price lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2008	Alison Strack, PhD	1990 winner (Graduate student, Arthur Loewy lab (WashU Anatomy & Neurobiology))
2007	Jeff Lichtman, MD, PhD	1978 winner (Graduate student, Dale Purves lab (WashU Physiology & Biophysics))