In the face of a growing global burden of Parkinson's disease, Nobel laureate Randy Schekman delivered a powerful plea for scientific collaboration during the Infosys Prize 2025 ceremony in Bengaluru. The acclaimed cell biologist argued that solving complex neurodegenerative disorders demands a fundamental shift away from individual-centric academia towards united, team-based efforts.
A Personal and Professional Appeal for Collaboration
Speaking at the prestigious event, Schekman highlighted a critical flaw in modern academic incentives. He pointed out that while award winners, including those honoured that day, rise through the current system, the reward structure overwhelmingly favours individual achievement. This, he cautioned, hinders progress on immensely complicated challenges like Parkinson's disease.
"Real progress on complicated problems like Parkinson's takes team effort," Schekman stated, emphasising that collaborative work is not necessarily well supported by the current grant system. He called for increased funding mechanisms designed specifically for team-based research to accelerate discoveries in neurology.
A Journey Remembered: The Personal Face of Parkinson's
Schekman's advocacy was deeply informed by both his professional expertise and a profound personal loss. His late wife was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the young age of 48. Recounting their difficult journey, he shared a poignant moment with the audience, gesturing to her photograph displayed on a large screen.
"This was her when everything was normal," he said. He described the ordeal of puzzling symptoms and uncertain diagnosis. The clarity finally came with a levodopa challenge test. "I will never forget the afternoon she called my office to say that after taking the pill, all her symptoms disappeared. That was both the good and the bad news," Schekman recalled, underscoring the bittersweet nature of a definitive Parkinson's diagnosis.
Celebrating Future Scientific Leaders
The Infosys Prize 2025, organised by the Infosys Science Foundation, recognised six exceptional researchers under the age of 40 across diverse fields. The award categories were:
- Economics
- Engineering and Computer Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
The prize honours work with a significant impact on both science and society. Historically, several Infosys Prize laureates have later achieved international acclaim, including winning Nobel Prizes, marking it as a premier incubator for scientific talent.
Schekman's address in Bengaluru thus wove together a celebration of individual brilliance with an urgent roadmap for the future: only through collective, generously funded teamwork can science hope to conquer the mounting challenge of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
