FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 10, 2022
Australian Researcher Wins $50,000 Sheila Essey Award: An Award for ALS Research
MINNEAPOLIS 鈥 The 好色先生, The ALS Association and the American Brain Foundation are awarding the 2022 Sheila Essey Award to Matthew Kiernan, MBBS, PhD, DSc, FRACP, FAHMS, of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia and a member of the 好色先生. The award, supported through the philanthropy of the Essey family, The ALS Association and the American Brain Foundation, recognizes significant research contributions in the search for the causes, prevention and cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig鈥檚 disease. The $50,000 prize is given to support continuing ALS research. Kiernan will be honored at the 好色先生's 74th Annual Meeting at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, April 2-7, 2022. Kiernan will be recognized during the ALS and Motor Neuron Disorders session at the AAN Annual Meeting on Monday, April 4, at 1:00 p.m. PT and at the American Brain Foundation鈥檚 Commitment to Cures event on Wednesday, April 6, at 6:00 p.m. PT. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death. The average life span after diagnosis is two to five years. Kiernan is being recognized as a research leader in ALS. His research has introduced new neuroscience techniques that have enabled the study of the disruption of brain networking in ALS, and the study of motor function, how the brain and spine control movement, breathing and more. His research includes a specific focus on identifying the ways in which ALS progresses. He has established new disease biomarkers and mechanisms of disease progression that can be incorporated into future clinical trials. Kiernan has also played a pivotal role in improving care for people with ALS and driving new research through his leadership with the Pan-Asian Consortium for the Treatment of ALS. In addition, Kiernan, along with international colleagues, established guidelines for diagnosing ALS that have simplified diagnosis and helped improve enrollment in clinical trials. 鈥淚 chose a career in neurology because of the potential to discover new therapies for brain disorders,鈥 said Kiernan. 鈥淚 had a personal interest in ALS because it was a disease which seemed impossible to treat. We have come to understand ALS not simply as a muscle wasting disease, but as a primary brain disease. Without knowing the mechanisms of ALS, it is impossible to come up with effective therapies. I want to be part of a generation that unravels the mysteries of ALS and discovers effective treatments for patients suffering from this fatal disease.鈥 Kiernan鈥檚 research team found that ALS may begin in the motor cortex, the part of the brain where muscular activity is initiated. They discovered hyperexcitability in this area of the brain before symptoms of muscle wasting appear. This discovery has led to new treatment options. Kiernan notes by identifying brain abnormalities, treatments for ALS may be started earlier and have a greater chance of rescuing diseased nerve cells. 鈥淚t is a truly great thrill and honour to receive the 2022 Sheila Essey Award,鈥 said Kiernan. 鈥淭his award is shared with ALS patients and their families who have driven my research, aiming to understand the biology of ALS and discover ways to improve outcomes. I have been the beneficiary of support from generous teachers, family and friends throughout this journey.鈥 The Sheila Essey Award for ALS Research is given to acknowledge and honor individuals who are making significant contributions in the search for effective treatments and cures for ALS. Since 1996, the $50,000 award has been made possible through the generosity of the Essey Family Fund through The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, in memory of Sheila Essey, who battled ALS for 10 years and died from the disease in 2004. Richard Essey, Sheila鈥檚 husband, served as a National Trustee of The ALS Association and was one of the founders of the Greater Bay Area Chapter, now the Golden West Chapter. Past recipients have used the funds to continue ALS research or to support promising young scientists on their research teams. Learn more about ALS at , home of the 好色先生鈥檚 free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life庐 on , and .