Pablo Ariel

Licenciado, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Exploring Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis
presented by Timothy A. Ryan

Pablo Ariel was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in part in the Netherlands and in part in Saudi Arabia and returned to Buenos Aires for his college work. His Ph.D. work focused on trying to understand one of the most important building blocks in the brain: the synapse. Our brains have 10 trillion synapses and it is widely believed that many brain disorders come from or manifest in improper synaptic function. Remarkably, we still know quite little about how normal function of these synapses is achieved and what controls how well they work.

Pablo developed new tools to allow one to interrogate the function of individual synapses, providing a new paradigm for asking questions about what key molecular parts help control function. His work is having profound impact on how we do our science. There was the B.P. era, before Pablo, and the modern era, P.P. — post Pablo.

Pablo, I am guessing, was born a researcher, as his mind was always synthesizing ideas and trying to connect the dots. I am sure his love of this type of inquisition will carry him far, for as many of us here on the faculty know, it is the desire to answer scientific questions, and the joy we have in racking our brains over the puzzles biology presents, that is at the core of all great scientists.