Brigitte Kieffer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brigitte Kieffer
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Brigitte Kieffer en 2014.
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| Born | 26 February 1958 |
| Nationality | French |
| Citizenship | France |
| Alma mater | University of Strasbourg |
| Known for | Discovery of delta-opioid receptor linked to pain |
| Awards | 2004 Richard Lounsberry Prize, 2012 Lamonica Prize for Neurology, 2014 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Molecular Psychiatry, Mood Disorders, Pain, and Developmental disorders |
| Institutions | University of Strasbourg, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IGBMC), McGill University |
Dr. Brigitte Kieffer (born February 26, 1958) is a famous French scientist. She is a neurobiologist who studies how our brains work. Dr. Kieffer is especially known for her research on something called opiate receptors. These are tiny parts of our brain cells that react to certain chemicals.
Her work helps us understand how the brain handles things like pain, mood problems, and developmental disorders. She has made big steps in understanding how our brains deal with pain and mental health issues. Dr. Kieffer is still doing research today and leads a large team of over 300 people.
Her Journey as a Scientist
Brigitte Kieffer started her career as a professor at the University of Strasbourg in France. This was the same university where she had studied. Later, she became the Research Director for a French research group called the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM).
In 2001, she went back to Strasbourg. There, she continued her research at the Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IGBMC). She even led IGBMC as its director from 2002 until 2013. In 2014, Dr. Kieffer moved to Montreal, Canada. She became a Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University. She also became the Scientific Director at the Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
Discoveries About the Brain
In 1992, Dr. Kieffer made a huge breakthrough. She was the first scientist to find and isolate a specific gene in the brain. This gene is important because it creates a special opioid receptor. This receptor plays a key role in reducing pain. Scientists had been trying to solve this puzzle for 15 years!
Her discovery helped open the door for new ways to treat pain and even depression. The gene she found helps our brains reduce pain, feel good, and cope with stress. By learning more about how these receptors work, scientists can better understand mood disorders and other mental health conditions.
Her research has led to the creation of new analgesic medicines. These are medicines that help relieve pain. Problems with the opioid system in the brain can also be linked to emotional issues like anxiety and severe depression. Dr. Kieffer often focuses her research on how brain opioid receptors affect our feelings of happiness and sadness.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Kieffer has received many important awards for her work. In 2004, she won the Richard Lounsberry Prize. This award came from a respected group in France called the Institut de France de l'Académie des Sciences. In 2012, she won another award, the Lamonica Prize for Neurology, from the French Académie des sciences.
At the end of 2013, she became a member of the French Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for scientists in France. On March 19, 2014, she received the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award. She received this award in Paris, France. She was honored for her important work on how the brain deals with pain and mental illness. This award celebrates the amazing achievements of women scientists around the world. Dr. Kieffer was chosen as the winner for Europe because of her research in Strasbourg, France.
