Sir Gabriel Horn, an eminent neuroscientist, made significant contributions to neuroscience, particularly in learning and memory. Rising from a working-class background in Birmingham, he pursued medicine at the University of Birmingham, later becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Cambridge. Knighted in 2002, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society and received its Gold Medal in 2001. In his personal life, Gabriel cherished family, loved acting as Father Christmas each year, enjoyed poetry readings, and exhibited paintings.
The University of Birmingham was extremely grateful to learn that Sir Gabriel and Prill had generously left a gift to the College of Medical and Dental Sciences to support medical students. The Gabriel Horn Bursaries were established in 2022, seeking to address the most pressing challenges facing students at the time.
His children say that he often talked to them about the gratitude he felt for the education he received at Birmingham, an education that was instrumental in launching him on the path to his distinguished career. They know that their father and stepmother would be delighted and excited to know that their gift was being used to provide security for those completing their studies in medicine.
The bursaries support fifth year medical students who needed it the most in the face of the cost-of-living crisis – namely those from low-income households. The £500 bursary was a lifeline for many, helping to cover the increased costs of energy, fuel and food during their final year studies and work placements. In total, 93 bursaries were awarded. One student who benefitted says: ‘This bursary will allow me to put the heating on and will contribute to food costs.’
In the first year alone, the generosity of Sir Gabriel and Prill has helped nearly 100 medical students to overcome the challenge of the cost-of-living crisis and fulfil their potential and become part of the next generation of doctors and researchers. The students not only benefit financially, but graduate knowing that they have benefitted from the generosity of a world-renowned scientist and a proud graduate of the University of Birmingham. With this support, they have been given the best opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Sir Gabriel and go one to help achieve outstanding achievements – and help many people along the way.