University of Cambridge Neurologist Awarded Dystel Prize for MS Research

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Mar 11, 2015, 11:03 ET

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are awarding the 2015 John Dystel Prize for MS Research to Alastair Compston, MBBS, PhD, Professor of Neurology at the University of Cambridge. Compston will receive the award at the Academy's 67^th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015. The Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of neurologists with more than 12,000 attendees and more than 2,500 scientific presentations on the latest research advancements in brain disease.

The John Dystel Prize recognizes a significant contribution to research in the understanding, treatment or prevention of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Compston's research focuses on the evolution of ideas on the way multiple sclerosis develops. At this year's AAN Annual Meeting, Compston will discuss work in clinical science addressing hypotheses developed in the 1980s that pioneered the development of a highly effective mechanism-based therapy for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

"The advances in treatment of multiple sclerosis seen in the last 20 years have been remarkable and unmatched by therapies developed for any other neurological disease," said Compston. "I am conscious of the enormous contributions made by many clinicians, scientists and people with multiple sclerosis who enabled the successful outcome of this work."

This award is made possible through a special contribution from the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Learn more about multiple sclerosis at www.aan.com/patients.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 28,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

SOURCE American Academy of Neurology