The solemn session of the YSMU Academic Council was dedicated to Ardem Patapoutian, the first Armenian laureate of the 2021 Nobel Prize, the prominent Armenian-American scientist, the molecular biologist-neurobiologist, the professor at the Doris Center for Neurology at the Scripps Research Institute in California, and a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The famous scientist, who discovered the molecular basis of the sense of touch and enjoyed the greatest prestige in his field, was awarded the title of YSMU Honorary Doctor.
In his welcoming speech YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan emphasized that the day was special, as the first Nobel Prize winner of Armenian origin Ardem Patapoutian would deliver a speech in the century-old university.
“A few minutes ago, the seed of the plant from which Dr. Patapoutian received the famous molecule was planted today at the medical university. The prominent scientist also became a Member of the Advisory Board of the COBRAIN Center. Two of the seven members of the Board are Nobel Prize winners,” Armen Muradyan said.
The heir of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian scientist who revolutionized the field of neurobiology was not the first time in Armenia and at the medical university. His first lecture in our country was also at YSMU in May 2016 – “Perception of touch. How do we feel the temperature and pressure?”.