GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Sept. 26, 2018) — Van Andel Research Institute announces pioneering physician-scientist K. Ray Chaudhuri, M.D., FRCP, D.Sc., as the 2018 winner of the Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research.
Chaudhuri is an international authority on the study and treatment of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s, which include depression, sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal issues. His work has greatly expanded the understanding of the disease and reinforced the importance of addressing non-motor problems to improve quality of life for patients.
Chaudhuri is a professor and consultant neurologist at King’s College Hospital in London and is the medical director of the Parkinson’s Foundation International Centre of Excellence at King’s College. He has earned numerous accolades for his contributions to science and the Parkinson’s community, including the Royal College of Physicians London Award for Outstanding Research Leadership. In 2013, he was selected to deliver the prestigious Edinburgh Parkinson’s Lecture. He has authored more than 330 papers and book chapters on Parkinson’s and restless legs syndrome.
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Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an independent nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations. Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, VAI has grown into a premier research and educational institution that supports the work of more than 400 scientists, educators and staff. Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), VAI’s research division, is dedicated to determining the epigenetic, genetic, molecular and cellular origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translating those findings into effective therapies. The Institute’s scientists work in onsite laboratories and participate in collaborative partnerships that span the globe. Learn more about Van Andel Research Institute or donate by visiting vari.vai.org.