Francisco J. Quintana, Ph.D., a leading multiple sclerosis researcher at the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, is the winner of the 2019 Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research. "This is the largest award of its kind in the world, and was created due to the Barancik Family’s experience with multiple sclerosis," says Murray Devine of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. 

Quintana has established innovative research programs that use advanced technology to make significant contributions to the understanding of the immune response and to identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for MS. He recently developed a new research platform to identify gene-environment interactions that control central nervous system inflammation that drives the damage that occurs in MS. The studies identified novel pathways involved in the regulation of this inflammation. Moreover, these studies map out a novel way to systematically investigate environmental factors in MS and other diseases. 

“I am deeply honored to be selected for the Barancik Prize, and thank the Award Committee for recognizing our work,” said Quintana. Professor Quintana will receive the award and deliver the Barancik Prize lecture at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum on February 27 in West Palm Beach. 

More about the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research.