“Dr. Bar-Or has been a key player in shaping the evolving conceptual framework of MS, including how the field thinks about early diagnosis, disease mechanisms, effective treatment, and stopping disease progression,” said Bruce Bebo, PhD, Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society. “His contributions to neuroimmunology, precision medicine, and biomarker studies have a direct impact on the treatment of people with MS, and I am excited to see his research continue to inform how to stop disease progression and ultimately end MS.”
Since his early research days, Dr. Bar-Or has accelerated our understanding of different types of immune cells, and how their interactions with each other and with brain cells contribute to MS attacks and progression. His research helped explain the role of B cells in MS – critical information that laid the groundwork for development of many of the high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used today.
Speaking of this accomplishment, previous Dystel Prize winner and Dr. Bar-Or’s nominator, David Hafler, MD, of Yale University noted “Dr. Amit Bar-Or is one of the pre-eminent neuroimmunologists in the MS field. He has made seminal discoveries relating to key B-cell abnormalities and how these abnormal B-cell responses impact other immune cell responses. His involvement in clinical trial programs and translational work has led to B-cell therapies that have been transformative in the treatment of MS.”
In addition to that pioneering work, Dr. Bar-Or has helped characterize the mode of action for several approved treatments, plus promising experimental therapies including Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors, currently in phase 3 clinical trials in MS. Recognizing the urgent need during the COVID-19 pandemic, he pivoted his research towards understanding how DMTs impact vaccine immune responses, and to help provide recommendations to people with MS being treated with DMTs.
A research priority for Dr. Bar-Or is the pursuit of precision medicine (an approach that helps identify individuals who would benefit most from particular treatment approaches, while also limiting risks). His team developed a novel Precision Neuroimmunology Platform that aims to identify subgroups of individuals based on their distinct immune cell responses. Ultimately, that information could help with clinical decision-making for both people with newly-diagnosed MS (e.g., which treatment to use) or for people with MS who have been stable on treatment (e.g., whether discontinuing treatment should be considered).
Identifying biomarkers (biologic measurements that predict a specific outcome) of MS diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and/or risk of progression would be impactful for ensuring early diagnosis and/or stopping disease progression. In recent years, Dr. Bar-Or has contributed to important strides in biomarker research including the development of markers of neuroimmune responses in blood and spinal fluid and identification of promising biomarker candidates that may distinguish non-relapsing progression from relapsing disease processes. Validation of these studies has the potential to guide treatment decision-making. More generally, he has championed the integration of thoughtful biological studies into clinical trials, which contribute not only to biomarker development and proof-of-principle mode-of-action studies, but also provide novel insights into disease mechanisms.
“I am deeply honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Dystel Prize," Dr. Bar-Or noted. "We have been fortunate that our research interests have coincided with, and hopefully contributed to, therapeutic advances in MS. There is nothing more gratifying than being recognized by one’s peers – which at least suggests our work is on the right track, as part of international efforts by multiple groups aimed at further elucidating MS disease mechanisms and optimizing care for individuals living with MS.”
Biosketch: Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC, Professor of Neurology, holds the Melissa and Paul Anderson President’s Distinguished Chair at the University of Pennsylvania, where he serves as Chief of the Division of MS and Related Disorders, Director of the Center for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics, and member of the Leadership Council of the Colton Centers For Autoimmunity. Dr. Bar-Or earned his medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He did a Neurology fellowship and additional training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard’s Center for Neurologic Disease. He is past-President of the Canadian Network of MS Clinics and of the International Society for Neuroimmunology (ISNI), past member of the Board of Directors of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS), and an ongoing member of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Education Committee and the Steering Committee of the NIH Immune Tolerance Network (ITN). Dr. Bar-Or has published hundreds of research papers, led national and international collaborative research initiatives and clinical trials, and is passionate about education of the next generation of clinician scientists, having mentored over 80 trainees at different career levels. Among several professional honors, Dr. Bar-Or received the 2021 Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research, awarded by the National MS Society.
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About the John Dystel Prize for MS Research: The Dystel Prize is awarded jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology. It was established in 1994 by former Society National Board member the late Oscar Dystel, and his wife the late Marion Dystel, in honor of their son, John Jay Dystel, an attorney whose promising career was cut short by progressive disability from MS, and complications of the disease that lead to his death in June 2003. about previous Dystel Prize winners.
About Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Currently there is no cure. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and vision issues. An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize disability. Significant progress is being made to achieve a world free of MS.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives. Connect to learn more and get involved: nationalmssociety.org, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, YouTube or 1-800-344-4867.
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