Antonio Pisani receives the Bachmann-Strauss Award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has announced that I am Antonio Pisani, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy and David G. Standaert, MD, PhD, John N. Whitaker, Professor and Director of Neurology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, recipients of the fifth Bachmann-Strauss Prize for excellence in dystonia research. The award honors Dystonia researchers for fundamental scientific discoveries and incentives for the next generation of researchers to continue creating care pathways. Michael J. Fox and Todd Sherer, PhD, MJFF CEO, presented the prize to Pisani and Standaert during a Foundation event in New York City on November 16, 2019.

“Dr. Pisani and Dr. Standaert have made significant steps in tracing the cellular dysfunction that leads to dystonia,” said Bonnie Strauss, who founded the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation in 1995, which initiated an alliance. in collaboration with MJFF, in 2015. “This team has laid the foundations for the development and testing of new therapies to help those suffering from dystonia.” Ms. Wagner, who currently sits on the MJFF Board of Directors, was diagnosed with dystonia in 1984.

Collaboration

Pisani and Standaert published their first article together in 2006 and are now co-authors of nine articles describing in detail the pathology of dystonia, a movement disorder characterized by painful and prolonged muscle contractions that cause abnormal movements and postures. Dystonia is both a distinct movement disorder and a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. The work of the co-authors examine the role and relationship of the activity of neurotransmitters in dystonia. They profiled an imbalance in dopamine and acetylcholine activity in a type of dystonia with onset typically in adolescence.

Pisani and Standaert are also practicing clinical studies, acquiring information for laboratory research from their patients.

Il Bachmann-Strauss Prize

The award is accompanied by a $ 100,000 research grant to support a joint research effort. The researchers will use the funds to study several models of a genetic form of dystonia for a better understanding of the effect of the mutation.

“We are very honored to receive the prestigious Bachmann-Strauss Prize,” said Pisani. “It means that we are working in the right direction and that we can continue to develop knowledge of new treatments and cures.”

“This collaboration with Antonio has been very productive and a driving force for discovery,” said Standaert. “There is a huge need for further research in this field and for more researchers. I hope this recognition by Bachmann-Strauss and MJFF will demonstrate to young researchers that there is support and encouragement for dystonia research and that it will attract many of them. in this field”.