Awarded on September 4, 2024, by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
LOS ANGELES, CA – Rhonda Voskuhl, MD, professor of neurology and director of the UCLA Multiple Sclerosis Program, has been awarded the 2024 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for her pioneering work on sex differences, hormones, and neuroprotection in MS.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Voskuhl has advanced a “bedside to bench to bedside” approach — starting with patient needs, uncovering underlying mechanisms in the lab, and translating discoveries back into clinical trials. Her research has reshaped understanding of why women are disproportionately affected by MS and has identified promising new therapies involving estrogen and testosterone for both women and men.
Voskuhl’s studies have revealed how sex chromosomes and hormones drive disease risk and progression, leading to novel therapeutic strategies such as using estriol, the “pregnancy hormone,” to reduce relapses, protect brain tissue, and improve cognition in women with MS.
“Dr. Voskuhl is the global leader in research on why women are more susceptible to MS and in translating science into treatments,” said Lawrence Steinman, MD, a past Dystel Prize recipient.
The Dystel Prize, one of the field’s highest honors, recognizes outstanding contributions that transform MS research and patient care.
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About Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl: Professor of Neurology at UCLA, Dr. Voskuhl holds the Jack Skirball Chair, is Director of the UCLA MS program, faculty at the UCLA Brain Research Institute, and serves as a neurologist for the UCLA Comprehensive Menopause Care program. With over 200 publications, including work in prestigious journals like Nature and Lancet Neurology, she conducts pre-clinical and clinical research to find treatments to prevent neurodegeneration. Her work on estrogen loss and cognition during menopause originated from extensive research on cognitive function in women with multiple sclerosis.
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About National Multiple Sclerosis Society: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world free of MS. Through groundbreaking research, advocacy, and support services, the Society drives progress toward prevention, treatment, and ultimately a cure for multiple sclerosis. By funding innovative science and empowering people affected by MS, the Society accelerates breakthroughs that improve quality of life today and transform the future of MS care.