This award was originally established to recognize excellence in behavioral neuroscience.

Michael E. Goldberger, PhD, was a pioneer experimentalist who helped establish that anatomical plasticity was a significant consequence of spinal cord injury, was correlated with, and is likely an important underlying mechanism responsible for, recovery of function after neurotrauma. His early work with Marion Murray, PhD (a life-long collaborator), validated the pioneering studies of Liu and Chambers, and later demonstrated sprouting in a number of spinal cord sensory and motor systems after injury.

Dr. Goldberger’s unique contribution lay in his ability to devise sensitive tech­niques to assess behavioral recovery, which could then be correlated with ana­tomical evidence for nerve regeneration. His seminal research papers revealed for the first time the capacity of central nervous system axons to sprout or grow into an adjacent denervated area. His work led to promi­sing research on the use of growth factors and fetal transplants to restore function. Dr. Goldberger focused on the nature of behavioral recovery and was a mentor to many well-known investigators studying plasticity and recovery after spinal cord injury.