FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 24, 2006
AAN Bestows Sheila Essey Award to ALS Researcher
St. Paul, Minn,. -
Peter Carmeliet, MD, PhD, of the University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, will be honored with the AAN Sheila Essey Award for his research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Carmeliet will receive the award during the American Academy of Neurology’s 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, held April 1 – 8. The Sheila Essey Award recognizes an individual who has made significant research contributions in the search for the cause, prevention of, and cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The $25,000 prize is to be used toward continuing ALS research. ALS is a motor neuron disease, which is characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons. Both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons are affected in ALS. Carmeliet’s research shows that the molecule vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protects mice against motor neuron loss. “Although the clinical utility of VEGF gene therapy for ALS remains to be established, our research paves the way for the start of clinical trials using VEGF in the treatment of human patients,” Carmeliet said. “Hopefully the clinical trials prove to be successful and will allow us to develop a treatment that is to increase the quality of life of ALS patients.” Sponsored by the AAN and the ALS Association, this award is supported through the philanthropy of the Essey family. The 58th Annual Meeting takes place in the San Diego Convention Center. It is the world’s largest annual gathering of neurologists.