FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 07, 2008

Ohio State University Medical Student Receives AAN Extended Neuroscience Award

CHICAGO -

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2008 Extended Neuroscience Award to Brandon Miller, PhD, a medical student at Ohio State University. Miller is being honored for his essay on immune cell function on the central nervous system. Miller will receive the award during the AAN’s 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, held April 12–19, 2008. The Extended Neuroscience Award seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering highly competitive awards for the best essay. This is one of four Medical Student Essay Awards offered by the American Academy of Neurology. Miller’s essay, “Activated Microglia Reduce Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Viability but Protect Mature Oligodendrocytes from Cell Death,” focuses on how the activation of immune cells in the brain may both protect and damage other cells during central nervous system injury. “This research and other studies examining the interactions of different cell types within the nervous system can help scientists develop therapeutic targets for nervous system trauma and disease,” said Miller. “I am honored to have this work recognized by the AAN and want to thank my mentors and colleagues in the lab for their help with this project.” The 60th Annual Meeting, one of the world’s largest gatherings of neurology professionals, takes place in the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.