Celebrating neuroscientist and pathologist Santiago Ramón y Cajal and the centenary of the establishment the famous Instituto Cajal in Madrid, Spain. Homage to Cajal The Cajal Embriodery Project pays homage to the fascinating history of the Cajal Institute and its founder, Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934). He is well known for his detailed, informative and accurate illustrations of brain cells, demonstrating both their individuality and interconnectedness.Over 75 volunteers collaborated across six countries to create 81 intricate, exquisite hand-stitched panels of Cajal's images. Coincidentally, it was created during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 and many of the contributors found the process of creating their embroideries a great relief in what was a difficult and often isolating time. The completed panels were sewn together to create a single 'tapestry,' approximately 2m x 2m in size. Initially, the plan was to exhibit the work at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum in July 2020. The FENS Forum is the largest annual meeting of neuroscientists in Europe. It was scheduled to take place in Glasgow, hosting over 6000 delegates. Sadly, due to COVID-19, the Forum had to be swiftly moved online. However, a video was made as part of its Open Theatre series (see below). Serialisation in The Lancet NeurologyFollowing an initial article in The Lancet Neurology - The Cajal Embroidery Project: celebrating neuroscience - the journal featured panels as cover images with further linked in context articles throughout 2021.List of ArticlesMehta, A.R., Abbott, C.M., Chandran, S., & Haley, J. (2020) The Cajal Embroidery Project: celebrating neuroscience, The Lancet Neurology, 19(12), 979. DeFeliipe, J., De Carlos, J.A. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) A museum for Cajal's Legacy, The Lancet Neurology, 20(1), 25. Ribchester, R.R. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Neuromuscular junctions: mind meeting matter, The Lancet Neurology, 20(2), 93.Mehta, A.R. (2021) Cajal's illustrations inspire reparative acts, The Lancet Neurology, 20(3), 174. Hardingham, G., Petzold G.C. & Mehta. A.R. (2021) What astrocytes need to do, The Lancet Neurology, 20(4), 260. Compston, A., Metha, A.R. & Metha, P.R. (2021) Willis and the cortical neuron, The Lancet Neurology, 20(5), 338. Lisa Stoneman's panel of a fully developed cerebellar Purkinje cell [cover 20(10)] James, O.G., Mehta, A.R., Behari M. & Chandran, S. (2021) Centenary of the oligodendrocyte, The Lancet Neurology, 20(6), 422.Deisseroth, K., Haley, J.E. & Mehhta, A.R. (2021) Form and function in the brain, The Lancet Neurology, 20(7), 508.Warming, H., Schuman, E.M. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Journey down memory lane, The Lancet Neurology, 20(8), 602.Zoghbi, Z.Y. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Purkinje cells and their trees, The Lancet Neurology, 20(9), 706. Atwell, D. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Anatomy embroiders function in Purkinje cells, The Lancet Neurology, 20(10), 793. Frith, P. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) The retina as a window into the brain,The Lancet Neurology, 20(11), 892. Mehta, A.R., Chataway, J., Pal, S., Parmar, M.K.B., Chandran, S. (2021) Trials for neurodegenerative diseases: time to innovate, The Lancet Neurology, 20(12), 984. Hannah Warming's rendition of of the hippocampus [cover 20(8)] Video summary of the Project Where to view The Cajal 'tapestry' has been on tour a number of times, including the following exhibitions:Neuroscience Day 2024BNA2025 Festival of Neuroscience, Liverpool, April 2025The Art and Legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Bristol, June 2025 In 2026, it will be on permanent display in Edinburgh's Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, QMRI Building, Little France. This article was published on 2024-12-11
