Journal of NeuroVirology, 8(suppl. 1): 34, 2002 °c 2002 Taylor & Francis ISSN 1355±0284/02 $12.00+.00 DOI: 10.1080/13550280290049930 Award Lecture 2002 Pioneer in NeuroVirology lecture

Chairpersons: B. Wigdahl (Hershey, USA) V. ter Meulen (W ¨urzburg, D)

69 30 years has focused on viral infections of the nervous sys- 2002 Pioneer in NeuroVirology Award tem. Dr. Johnson is considered by many to be a founding father of neurovirology and is responsible for training many Brian Wigdahl, Ph.D., President International Society for NeuroVirology leaders in the eld. The second Pioneer in NeuroVirology Award was pre- sented to Dr. Volker ter Meulen, Chairman of the Research The Board of Directors of the International Society for Neu- Centre for Infectious Diseases at the University of Wurzburg,¨ roVirology (ISNV) established the Pioneer in NeuroVirol- and was presented at the Third International Symposium ogy Award in 1998 to recognized the lifetime research ca- on NeuroVirology which was held in San Francisco, CA in reer achievements of outstanding investigators working in September of 2000. Dr. ter Meulen’s contributions to the eld the area of neurovirology and related disciplines. The ISNV of neurovirology span a period of more than thirty years in Board of Directors selects the Awardee after consideration of which his research has been directed toward the study of nominees provided by the Society Membership. persistence in the central (CNS). His The rst ISNV Pioneer in NeuroVirology Award was pre- research has targeted acute measles , measles sented to Dr. Richard T. Johnson, Professor of inclusion body encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panen- at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The cephalitis. His seminal observations have greatly contributed award recognized Dr. Johnson for his many important con- to our current understanding of virus persistence and patho- tributions to the eld of neurovirology, and was presented genesis in the CNS. In addition, his research has been in- at the Second International Symposium of NeuroVirology, strumental in determining the etiology of other viral- as- a Gordon Research Conference, which was held in June of sociated neurological syndromes. Dr. ter Meulen’s studies 1999. Dr. Richard Johnson’s interest in viral infections of the on measles virus pathogenesis have contributed to our un- central nervous system began in the 1960’s when he was in derstanding of the mechanisms by which are able the Department of Viral Diseases at Walter Reed Army In- to escape the immune response. In addition, his work has stitute of Research. He worked with Dr. Edward Buescher, a shown how measles and coronavirus infections are able to virologist, and characterized the effects of enterovirus infec- induced MHC expression and initiate an autoimmune re- tions in the central nervous system. He then went on to the sponse. Dr. ter Meulen received an M.D. degree from the Uni- Massachusetts General Hospital where he trained in neurol- versity of G¨ottingen in 1960 and research fellowship training ogy. Dr. Johnson has been the leader in synthesizing the elds at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital. He is a past Chair of the of and neurology. The major part of Dr. Johnson’s ca- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology and Dean of the reer was at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Faculty of Medicine at the University of Wurzburg. ¨ Dr. ter as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Neurology, a posi- Meulen is a dedicated researcher whose contributions have tion he held from 1969 until his appointment as neurologist- had considerable impact on the eld of neurovirology. in-chief and director of the Department of Neurology in The 2002 Pioneer in NeuroVirology Award will be pre- 1988. Both his clinical and basic research work over the past sented at the Symposium Banquet.