2013 Press Releases
UCC neuroscientist honoured for research

Prof. John F. Cryan has been awarded the prestigious 2013 Utrecht University Excellence in Pharmaceutical Research Award.
This prize is awarded biannually by the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences in honour of the contributions made by a researcher to the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Prof. Cryan is Chair and Head of Dept. Anatomy & Neuroscience & Principal Investigator in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at UCC.
Prof. Cryan's current research interests include the neurobiological basis of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety and drug dependence. Moreover, his group is also focused on understanding the interaction between brain and gut and how it applies to stress and immune-related disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and autism. He is also interested in applying novel approaches to facilitate drug/siRNA delivery to the brain in vivo.
Prof. Cryan’s group is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board, The Irish Research Council and the European Union Seventh Framework Programme.
Prof Cryan, who was UCC's Researcher of the Year in 2012, said: "It is a real honour to be recognised by one of the leading universities in Europe in the Pharmaceutical Sciences".
The award is a unique work of art from Gabri Schumacher (Artis causa), inspired by a pill box.