Renowned Parkinson’s disease scientist awarded Donald Calne Lectureship

Toronto, ON – Parkinson Society Canada is pleased to announce the award of the 2nd annual Donald Calne lectureship to Professor Oleh Hornykiewicz, MD, professor emeritus of Vienna.

Widely recognized as one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, Dr Hornykiewicz’ international reputation was cemented early in his career when he determined that Parkinson’s disease results from too little of one kind of neurotransmitter known as dopamine. His subsequent development of L-dopa for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease revolutionized treatment and remains the cornerstone of therapy today.

Dr Hornykiewicz received his MD degree from the University of Vienna in 1951. He has held full professorships concurrently at the University of Toronto in the departments of pharmacology and psychiatry and in the department of biochemical pharmacology at the University of Vienna. He is a member of 15 professional societies around the world, has served on numerous scientific advisory boards, and has received many honours.

He continues to work out of the Brain Research Institute at the University of Vienna and is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on neurotransmitter function in diseased and normal brain.

The lectureship was established in 2002 to honour Dr Donald Calne for his outstanding service to the Parkinson’s community as professor of neuroscience, University of British Columbia and past chair and long time member of the scientific advisory board, Parkinson Society Canada.

A distinguished neuroscientist of international reputation, whose work is primarily in the area of Parkinson’s disease, will be awarded the lectureship each year. The recipient will deliver a “state of the illness” lecture on Parkinson’s disease to the Parkinson community at the annual general meeting of Parkinson Society Canada, held each year in November.