Celebrating Innovation in MS Research With the John Dystel Prize: Bruce Bebo, PhD

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

“I think we’ll look back—when the cures are found for MS—and we’ll see these lectures at the Academy meeting as milestones and significant jumps in our understanding of MS that led to those cures.”

The John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research, presented by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (the Society) in partnership with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), honors exceptional research that has significantly advanced the understanding, prevention, treatment, or potential cure of multiple sclerosis (MS). Valued at $40,000, the award highlights innovative and impactful scientific work that has reshaped the way MS is viewed and managed. While leadership and service to the MS community are acknowledged, the primary focus is on transformative, ongoing research rather than lifetime achievement.^1,2

Primary considerations of the award include the significance of the research, particularly its impact on advancing understanding or influencing the treatment and management of MS; the originality of the work, including the introduction of new ideas, methods, or findings; and the candidate’s role as the primary contributor to the research efforts. Evaluation also takes into account the researcher’s academic track record, such as publication history, authorship roles, and citation impact, as well as the relevance of the work to key areas of MS research including disease mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

At the recently concluded 2025 AAN Annual Meeting, held April 5-9, in San Diego, California, MS expert Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC, FAAN, FANA, was named the recipient of this year’s award. During the meeting, Bruce Bebo, PhD, executive vice president of research at the Society, sat down with NeurologyLive^® to highlight the importance of celebrating key scientific discoveries that have transformed treatment approaches in MS. Bebo also underscored the role of the prize and its associated lecture at the AAN Annual Meeting in inspiring young investigators, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting a shared commitment to finding a cure. He concluded by praising Bar-Or for his ongoing contributions to precision medicine in the field.

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REFERENCES
1. Dr. Amit Bar-Or, Penn Medicine Neuroimmunologist, Awarded the 2025 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research. News Release. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Published March 20, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/bar-or-wins-2025-dystel-prize
2. Bar-Or A. 2025 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research. Presented at: 2025 AAN Annual Meeting; April 5-9; San Diego, CA. Multiple Sclerosis: Biomarkers in MS.