Munich neurologist wins Barancik Prize for MS research
Researcher lauded for work on myelin
Mikael Simons, MD, a neurologist at Technical University Munich, has been awarded this year’s $125,000 Barancik Prize for his extensive research on myelin, a protective coating that sheathes nerve cells and becomes damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Run by the National MS Society and funded by the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research is aimed at rewarding innovative and original work that adds to what is known about MS and opens ways to finding more effective treatments or a cure.
“We are thrilled to award Dr. Simons with the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research,” Bruce Bebo, PhD, executive vice president of research at the National MS Society, said in a press release from the nonprofit. “He is a big thinker who follows the science and isn’t afraid to take risks.”
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Barancik Prize and sincerely thankful to the committee for recognizing the collaborative efforts of my team, which made this accomplishment possible,” said Simons, who will deliver the Barancik Prize lecture at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS Forum on Feb. 28.
In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, causing damage to the sheath itself and to the nerve cells it protects. Simons began his career studying the basics of myelin, focusing on how myelin is formed and maintained, why it fails to repair itself in MS, and how aging myelin contributes to ongoing inflammation.
Myelin discoveries
Simons’ team also discovered that fatty debris from damaged myelin isn’t cleared away properly by microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, which results in a chronic state of active inflammation. They identified specific genes that, when turned on, improve both clearance of myelin debris and myelin repair, offering potential targets for new treatments.
The team also found that some immune T-cells can trigger microglia to become toxic and cause damage to myelin-producing cells, limiting repair. In MS, the presence of damaged myelin may do more harm than loss of myelin.
Simon’s “work in myelin biology uncovered fundamental information regarding questions that went unanswered for decades,” said Bebo. “Now, his research is leading to new ways of thinking about myelin repair and therapeutic interventions, while also highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to science.”
The Simons team also found that an approved arthritis medication, baricitinib, could reduce inflammation and prevent damage to myelin in an animal model, paving the way for a planned Phase 2 clinical trial in MS.
“I’m excited to see how his work will continue to shape our understanding of MS and help us restore function to people with MS,” Bebo said.
Simons said his “goal has always been to discover fundamental biological mechanisms and apply these insights to enhance our understanding and treatment of MS. ”
“The type of innovation I value most breaks boundaries to open the door to new opportunities,” he said.
This year, the Barancik Prize includes a $200,000 fellowship award for a trainee chosen by Simons.
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