CSL Behring today honored the achievements of six scientists with the inaugural 2011 Interlaken Leadership Awards for advancing medical research and knowledge about the potential role of immunoglobulin therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. The total value of the six awards is estimated to be more than $1.2 million.
The Interlaken Leadership Awards program was created by CSL Behring to support research to identify new potential clinical applications for polyvalent immunoglobulins, with the ultimate goal of having a positive impact on the quality of life for people who are managing neurological conditions.
"The pioneering research that these scientists have accomplished some day may translate into new, much-needed treatments that may improve the lives of millions of people with debilitating and degenerative neurological conditions," said Jeffrey Baggish, M.D., Director of Medical Affairs, Immunology & Pulmonary at CSL Behring. "The 2011 Interlaken Leadership Awards recognize the scientists’ commitment to advancing innovative research into the potential role of immunoglobulin therapy for neurological disorders, an approach that embodies the spirit and mission of CSL Behring."
A full Interlaken Leadership Awards grant was awarded to the top three investigators who received the most votes from a global, cross-functional CSL Behring review committee. The committee selected award recipients based on scientific merit, strength of hypothesis, relevance to neuroimmunology, and research feasibility.
The winners of full 2011 Interlaken Leadership Awards:
- Christian Geis, M.D.
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Germany
Treatment Effects of Polyvalent Human Immunoglobulins in an Animal Model of Neuromyelitis Optica - Jens Schmidt, M.D.
University of Göttingen, Germany
Immunoglobulin G for experimental treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - Pr Jean-Yves Delattre
Hopital de la Salpetriere, France
Early Onset Immunotherapy by Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Corticosteroids in Well-characterized Onconeural-antibody-positive Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome
Additionally, three scientists were awarded one-time grants of $50,000 each.
Winners of One-Time Monetary Grants:
- Andreas Goebel, Ph.D.
University of Liverpool, UK
Cellular and Behavioural Models to Predict Patients’ Responses to IgG Treatment in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Prof. Ruth Itzhaki
University of Manchester, UK
Does Privigen® Affect the Accumulation of Key Alzheimer’s Disease Proteins Induced By Herpes Simplex? - Nancy Nealon, M.D.
Cornell University Medical Center, USA
Prevention of Relapses in Neuromyelitis Spectrum Patients with IVIg
About the Interlaken Leadership Awards Program
To demonstrate its continued commitment to innovative immunoglobulin research, CSL Behring created the Interlaken Leadership Awards. This program was developed to meet the following objectives:
- To identify new clinical applications for immunoglobulin therapy for potential further clinical investigation.
- To further investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of action of polyvalent immunoglobulins.
- To explore novel opportunities to enhance quality of life for patients using polyvalent immunoglobulins.
Comprehensive information about the Interlaken Leadership Awards is available on the grant program’s web site, www.InterlakenLeadershipAwards.com.
About CSL Behring
CSL Behring is a leader in the plasma protein therapeutics industry. Committed to saving lives and improving the quality of life for people with rare and serious diseases, the company manufactures and markets a range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapies worldwide. CSL Behring therapies are indicated for the treatment of coagulation disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema and inherited respiratory disease. The company’s products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic diseases in newborns. CSL Behring operates one of the world’s largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. CSL Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit www.cslbehring.com.
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