Pierre Pollak, former full professor, and John Donoghue, former visiting professor, are among the laureates of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2026. This international distinction, which recognises major innovations with a beneficial impact on humanity, has been awarded to them for their revolutionary contributions in the field of modern neural interfaces, which help restore mobility and autonomy to people with severe neurological disorders.

Pierre Pollak: pioneer of deep brain stimulation

Pierre Pollak, who was full professor at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences of the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine from 2010 to 2015 and head physician of the Division of Neurology at Geneva University Hospitals during the same period, is recognised worldwide for his pioneering role in the development and clinical application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat Parkinson's disease. A neuropsychologist and neurologist by training, he was one of the first, alongside Professor Alim-Louis Benabid in Grenoble, to demonstrate the efficacy of this neurosurgical technique, which involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain to modulate neuronal activity and alleviate debilitating motor symptoms. His work has transformed the care of people with Parkinson's disease and paved the way for the use of DBS for other neurological and psychiatric conditions, significantly improving the quality of life of thousands of patients worldwide.

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John Donoghue: architect of brain-computer interfaces

John Donoghue, visiting professor at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine and founding director of the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering at Campus Biotech from 2015 to 2019, is recognised for his groundbreaking research in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). An internationally renowned neuroscientist, he developed the BrainGate system, which translates brain signals directly into commands to control robotic prostheses or computer cursors. His innovations have enabled people with tetraplegia to regain a form of communication and mobility by controlling robotic arms through thought alone. These advances open up extraordinary prospects for restoring the autonomy of people with paralysis or neurodegenerative diseases, representing a major source of hope for millions of people.

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