Queensland neurologist wins top award for EBV work in MS

Multiple sclerosis

21 Nov 2019

Prof Michael Pender

Professor Michael Pender of Queensland University has been awarded Multiple Sclerosis Australia’s most prestigious Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in research into MS, particularly into the progressive forms of MS.

The John Studdy Award is given annually by MS Australia in recognition of outstanding consistent and selfless provision of meritorious service to people living with MS.

In its announcement of the award, MS Australia said Professor Pender has made a tangible difference to the lives of people living with MS over 30 years.

“His passionate commitment to people with MS is manifest through his close cooperation with MS Queensland and his extraordinary lifelong service to identify the cause of, and potential cure for, MS.

“He has been an inspiration to the MS community for decades and many people have spoken of the uplifting impact of Professor Pender’s assistance to them in the course of their disease.

“His tireless work in our sector, and the fact that he continues to pursue this research with passion and vigour, well past the time that many others would retire, makes him worthy of the highest recognition MS Australia can give.”

Professor Pender is a consultant neurologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he established a Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in 1996.

In 2003 Professor Pender proposed that MS is caused by an accumulation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cells in the brain.

His hypothesis led to a world first clinical trial of EBV-specific adoptive T cell therapy in MS, that showed T cell therapy is safe and may be beneficial in stopping the progression of MS and that further trials are warranted.

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