Stanford Neuroscientist Wins $625K MacArthur 'Genius' Grant

PALO ALTO, CA — A Stanford neuroscientist was among the recipients of a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, also referred to as a “genius” grant.

Michelle Monje, whose research focuses on understanding healthy brain development and creating therapies for a group of lethal brain tumors, was awarded with the $625,000, "no strings attached" grant, one of 25 handed out across the country.

The grants are given to individuals across “a variety of fields who have shown exceptional originality in and dedication to their creative pursuits,” according to the MacArthur Foundation.

Monje, an associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, said she was “very surprised and incredibly honored” when she found out that she was a winner, according to a news release from Stanford.

Frank Longo, the chair of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford, added that Monje is “widely considered a pioneer of the emerging field of cancer neuroscience.”

“She has made a series of breakthrough discoveries that shed new light on both brain cancer and the cognitive impairment from which cancer survivors often suffer, and she is already translating several of her laboratory discoveries into clinical trials focused on improving outcomes for children and adults with aggressive brain cancers,” Longo said.

Click here for more information on the 2021 class.