esearch by Peter Carmeliet and his team at the Catholic University of Leuven has led to the surprising finding that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in this disease process. Subsequent research into using VEGF as a possible treatment shows promise.

A gift from the ALS Association

The ALS Association was founded to serve ALS patients. A short while ago, the Association started collection campaigns for research into ALS. Now, the Association is presenting all of the collected funds to the VIB researchers as a gift of appreciation. The chairman of the ALS Association expressed it to Peter Carmeliet this way: "The Association and its members are extremely appreciative of your dedication, and we hope that this gift can help accelerate the VEGF procedure and thus encourage patients to carry on with hope.' For the moment, the contribution amounts to 3000 - but the Association is planning additional actions, beyond the collection campaigns, to continue to support this research.

Galenus Prize goes to VIB researchers

On 8 May, Diether Lambrechts and Erik Storkebaum from Peter Carmeliet's research group received the Galenus Prize for pharmacology and fundamental research. This 6200 Prize rewards basic research that opens the way to new medical treatments. The research of these two VIB scientists into the therapeutic applications of VEGF for ALS is a shining example of this kind of research. The Galenus Prize is thus an important acknowledgement of the import of their innovative research.

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Contact: Sooike Stoops
sooike.stoops@vib.be
32-9-244-6611
VIB, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology
16-Jun-2005

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