Tucson, Arizona, 5 November 2024 – Brain Medicine has launched an ambitious Festschrift series with the first of more than ten planned articles celebrating Dr. Seymour Reichlin's centennial year and his transformative impact on neuroendocrinology. The opening editorial, chronicling his revolutionary insights into brain-hormone interactions, inaugurates what promises to be one of the most comprehensive tributes in the field's history.
"One could be both a physician caring for patients and a scientific investigator," reflects Dr. Reichlin, whose work spanning nearly 80 years has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of how the brain and hormones interact. Still actively contributing to scientific discourse at 100 years old, his early experiences as a psychiatric orderly during World War II sparked a lifelong quest to understand the biological mechanisms of stress and emotional states.
"Dr. Reichlin's influence extends far beyond his scientific achievements," notes Dr. Ronald Lechan, lead author of the inaugural editorial. "His ability to excite fellows about research, coupled with his innovative thinking and clear vision of important questions to pursue, has shaped generations of leading endocrinologists."
The forthcoming series will explore multiple facets of Dr. Reichlin's contributions, including:
• Pioneering work on hypothalamic control of pituitary function
• Development of the first radioimmunoassay for several crucial hormones
• Groundbreaking discoveries in psychoneuroimmunology
• Early recognition of fat tissue as an endocrine organ
• Identification of the first somatostatinoma
Currently, Dr. Reichlin is writing two books: one examining the neuroendocrinology of Alzheimer's disease, and another exploring the neurobiological basis of ecstatic mysticism. These newest endeavors raise intriguing questions that subsequent articles in the series may address: How might understanding the neuroendocrine basis of mystical experiences provide new insights into stress adaptation? What can Dr. Reichlin's early observations about fat as an endocrine organ teach us about modern obesity challenges?
"The upcoming articles in this series will demonstrate how Dr. Reichlin's foundational work continues to influence cutting-edge research across multiple fields," adds Dr. Lechan. "Each contribution will explore different aspects of his legacy while highlighting new directions for future investigation."
