1993 Viktor Hamburger award to Dr Carla J. Shatz

In an effort to recognize outstanding contributions to developmental neuroscience, the Editorial Board of the Znternational Journal of Developmental Neuroscience and Elsevier Science Ltd, have established an annual award in honor of Viktor Hamburger, whose seminal contributions shaped our approach to cell death and growth factor effects in the nervous system. Nominations for the Viktor Hamburger Award are made by our Editorial Board and the final selection is made by the Editor in Chief in consultation with the Associate Editors. The recipient is invited to submit a short review to reflect their present position on some area of developmental neuroscience that is likely to be of importance in the near future. Thus, rather than a retrospective view, we ask our awardee to share a view of what is to come. The 1993 Viktor Hamburger Awardee is Carla Shatz, PhD. Dr Shatz has been a pioneer in her studies on the mechanisms of action of the development of the mammalian visual system. The following review provides a discussion of her views on the more dynamic aspects of neurotrophin action.