Two Researchers Receive AAN's Sheila Essey Award-An Award for ALS Research

Newswise — The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2009 Sheila Essey Award"An Award for ALS Research to Orla Hardiman, MD, FRCP, FAAN, with Trinity College Dublin; and Merit E. Cudkowicz, MD, MSC, with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Hardiman and Cudkowicz will receive the award during the AAN's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, held April 25 through May 2, 2009. Hardiman is a Fellow of the Academy and Cudkowicz is an Academy member.

The Essey Award recognizes individuals who have made significant research contributions in the search for the cause, prevention of, and cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. 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.

Hardiman's research funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland focused on identifying gene variations that can cause certain populations to be more susceptible to developing ALS and ALS with cognitive decline.

"We have shown that variations in the gene ANG can cause ALS, and that certain susceptibility genes for ALS are more important in some populations than others," said Hardiman. "We also know that cognitive impairment is present in up to 50 percent of Irish ALS patients and that diseases like ALS occur more commonly in families of ALS patients than in families without the diagnosis."

Cudkowicz's research is focused on developing new drug treatments for people with both the familial and sporadic forms of ALS.

"There is potentially a large pipeline of therapies to bring forward for patients with ALS, and developing strategies to efficiently test potential treatments is critical," said Cudkowicz. This research could cut down on the time required to develop an effective ALS therapy."

Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the ALS Association, this award is supported through the philanthropy of the Essey family.

The 61st Annual Meeting, one of the world's largest gatherings of neurology professionals, takes place in the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 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 Parkinson's disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), dementia, West Nile virus, and ataxia.

For more information, visit www.aan.com/awards.