Anne E. West, MD, PhD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology, has received the 2025 Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
The award, named in honor of former NINDS Director Story Landis, PhD, recognizes up to five awardees each year from among faculty members who have shown dedication to superior mentorship and training in neuroscience research.
“Story Landis was the PhD thesis mentor of my PhD thesis mentor — my ‘scientific grandmother,’” West said. “So this award means a lot to me. I have always felt that the people who do the work matter as much as the science itself, and this award honors all the efforts of my trainees.”
The award includes $100,000 (direct costs) in the form of a supplement to an existing NINDS grant, to support the awardees’ efforts to foster the career advancement of additional trainees.
West, who also has an appointment in the Duke Department of Cell Biology, has guided numerous students and physician-scientists through the complexities of academic and clinical research careers as associate director of Duke’s Medical Scientist Training Program.
According to the NINDS, “Dr. West is known for her thoughtful, structured approach to mentorship, creating opportunities for hands-on training, leadership development, and collaborative learning.