The laureates of the Charcot Fund 2018 are known: a choice for concrete results, a focus on progressive MS and, as usual, support for innovative basic research.
As announced at the end of last year, the Fondation Charcot Stichting is increasing its support and will be donating €300,000 (against €200,000 in 2017) to seven research teams working on multiple sclerosis, whose aim is to significantly improve knowledge of both this neurological disease and its treatments.
For many years now, Belgium has been a leader in this area. This excellence is partly due to the continued support of the Fondation Charcot Stichting (since 1987), and also to the expertise of its scientific jury (see below).
“This year’s choice of projects confirms the Fondation Charcot Stichting’s deliberate focus on progressive multiple sclerosis, a form of MS for which treatments are as yet very limited. The jury has also selected projects, the results of which may yield substantial and concrete improvements. Finally, support to pure basic research remains essential. We need to know how the disease works in order to explore new treatment options such as cell therapy.” Prof C. Sindic, President of the Fondation Charcot Stichting.
This year, an eighth project was selected and will be funded by the Belgian National MS League on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.
the generosity of its donors and testators
The Fondation Charcot Stichting owes its very existence to the generosity of its donors and testators. By increasing its support to cutting-edge basic research, the Fondation Charcot Stichting is making its contribution to a future cure for MS. Once more, however, we have been unable to finance a number of projects in 2018. We need to increase our notoriety and collect funds. For this reason, a Charcot Team will again be taking part in the 2018 edition of the 20 km of Brussels race. We are currently looking for runners who, by participating, will be making their own contribution to MS research.
The jury emphasised the fact that the Fondation Charcot Stichting is more than a source of financial support to researchers. It also sets standards in the area of MS research in Belgium. How? By also investing in promising young researchers by means of the Charcot Fellowships, raising awareness among neurologists and doctors, supplying patients with unbiased information and supporting the BELTRIMS register (the Belgian register of MS patients).
The jury of the Charcot Fund 2018
Prof. Dr. Christian Sindic
President of the Fondation Charcot Stichting
Function: Professor Emeritus of UCL
Specialism: Neurology
Research Focus: MS
Dr. Pierrette Seeldrayers
President of the Belgian Study Group for MS
Function: Honorary Head of the Department of Neurology at CHU Charleroi
Specialism: Neurology
Research Focus: MS
Prof. Dr. Alex Michotte
Function: Professor of Neuroanatomy at the Faculty of Medicine of the VUB. Head of Clinic Department of Neurology and Anatomo-Pathology of UZ Brussel.
Specialism: Neurology and Neuropathology
Research Focus: Neuropathological study of central nervous system tumor
Prof. Dr. Alain Maertens de Noordhout
Function: Head of Department of Neurology of CHR Citadelle Liège.
Specialism: Diseases of the motor, extrapyramidal and peripheral nervous systems
Research Focus: function of the motor system in healthy men and in neurological pathology
Prof. Dr. Gilles Defer
Function: Head of Department of Neurology, Coordinator of the Center Resources and Skills SEP, University Hospital Center, President of the Bas-Normand Network of Management of MS Patients, Member of Unit INSERM UMR 1237, Cyceron, CAEN, France
Specialism: Neurology, CNS Inflammatory Diseases
Research Focus: The study of cognitive disorders of MS and their management, in particular cognitive remediation - The epidemiological study of the influence of social inequalities on the therapeutic management of patients. The research in e-health particularly around the adverse effects of MS drugs and their declaration by patients.
Prof. Dr. Juan Antonio Garcia Merino
Function: Professor of Neurology Universidad Autonoma Madrid, Director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
Specialism: Neurology
Research Focus: the study of experimental models with particular interest in mechanisms of damage and the role of cannabinoids in the control of neuroimmune inflammation.
