An introduction to a symposium dedicated to the scientific achievements of Roger Nicoll

Abstract

This special symposium issue contains articles based on talks given at a recent 2 day symposium in honour of Roger A Nicoll, Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Roger initially trained in medicine but became interested in neuroscience as a result of reading the work of Sir John Eccles. From 1973 to 1975, he worked with Eccles in Buffalo, New York, and then took a faculty position at UCSF in 1975. Here he initially studied synaptic transmission in the olfactory bulb (Jahr & Nicoll, 1982) and hippocampal formation (Alger & Nicoll, 1982) but soon moved almost exclusively to the hippocampus where his laboratory has been studying the neurons and their synaptic connections for the last 30 years. These studies have examined the properties of both excitatory and inhibitory systems and led to fundamental changes in our understanding of both forms of synaptic transmission. His laboratory has been at the forefront of understanding the cellular and biochemical mechanisms that underpin synaptic plasticity, particularly long-term potentiation. He has trained dozens of scientists, many of whom are now are senior lab heads spread over the world. This symposium was a celebration of Roger's life in science, bringing together people who have been in his laboratory as well as his closest colleagues to discuss their areas within the lab as well as areas of their own current research. It was a wonderful event with Professor Eric Kandel giving the keynote address.