November 28, 2023
At the Grands Sages event held on November 23, Quebec’s Chief Scientist, Mr. Rémi Quirion, and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) presented the first Grands Sages Brenda Milner Neuroscience Awards to Rachel Dufour, a PhD student in Dr. Linda Booij’s laboratory, in recognition of her exceptional career.
Grands Sages Brenda Milner Neuroscience Award
Rachel Dufour, Concordia University
Doctoral project: Cognitive and neurodevelopmental processes in pediatric eating disorders
The Grands Sages awards are presented to individuals who received a doctoral scholarship from the FRQ last spring, and whose academic record, in line with the Grands Sages field of expertise, stood out during the scientific evaluation.
“As Quebec’s Chief Scientist, I feel it is important to highlight the contributions of renowned researchers who have left their mark on the history of science in Quebec. I would also like to pay tribute to three rising stars in the field of research supported by the FRQ, as they represent our scientific future. My most sincere congratulations to Rachel, Marie-Ange and Audrey-Anne, and all the best in the pursuit of their doctoral projects. As for our Grand Sages, I thank them for their generosity and for all they have contributed to Quebec society and to science in general. You have my admiration.”
– Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec
Who are the Great Sages?
Professor Brenda Milner, nicknamed the ‘great lady of neuroscience’, is considered one of the pioneers of cognitive neuropsychology, in particular for her work on the role of the brain’s temporal lobe in episodic memory mechanisms. Born in England, she moved to Montreal in 1944. With a PhD in psychophysiology from McGill University, she worked for 60 years at the Montreal Neurological Hospital Institute – The Neuro – and at McGill. In particular, she directed the Neuropsychology Research Laboratory and taught in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. She has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Prix du Québec Wilder-Pendfield in 1993, the Gairdner Prize in 2005 and the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2014.
Find out more about the Grands sages Prizes