PRIZE. Michael Schöll, a 38-year-old researcher at the University of Gothenburg, has been awarded the “Queen Silvia Prize to a Young Alzheimer’s Researcher.” The prize was established by the Swedish Alzheimer’s Foundation and is awarded by Her Majesty Queen Silvia today, April 18. At the same ceremony, Ingmar Skoog is receiving the Alzheimer’s Foundation’s major research prize, a prize that had previously been announced by the foundation.
Michael Schöll and his group of researchers at the University of Gothenburg are focusing on using brain imaging to establish new and to validate existing biomarkers, which will make it possible to identify individuals who are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as early as possible in the disease stage. Michael Schöll is part of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine at University of Gothenburg.
“The award means a great deal. It’s a validation from an active association that represents those for whom I’m conducting research–patients and their relatives–so the prize makes me extra happy,” Michael says. “I’m humbled in the face of the challenge but inspired by past prizewinners. Several of these are sure to play an active role in what may be a partial solution to this enormous social problem.”
The “Queen Silvia Prize to a Young Alzheimer’s Researcher” was established in 2014 by the Alzheimer’s Foundation (Alzheimerfonden) on the occasion of the queen’s 70th birthday. The prize is awarded every year to a promising dementia researcher under the age of 40. The prize money amounts to SEK 125,000.
Michael Schöll is receiving the award from Queen Silvia at 16:00 on April 18, 2018 at the Royal Palace in a ceremony in which Professor Ingmar Skoog is receiving the Alzheimer’s Foundation’s major research prize of SEK 2.5 million. That award has previously been announced by the foundation.
Ingmar Skoog is a professor, psychiatrist and director of the Center for Aging and Health (AgeCap) at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. He is receiving the prize for his age-related study in which he examines how markers for Alzheimer’s disease in spinal fluid are related to the brain’s biological processes among 70-year-olds who have not developed dementia.
“It’s really great to receive the major research prize and the research grant,” Ingmar comments. “The prize means that we can discover different ways to prevent dementia and can also enable us to find clues to new treatment options.”
TEXT: ALZHEIMER FOUNDATION
PHOTO: YANAN LI
