Other Awards and Prizes

The National MS Society offers other funding awards including the John Dystel Prize for MS Research and the Ralph I. Straus Award for MS.

  • In conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society established the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research in 1994 for the purpose of recognizing outstanding contributions to research in the understanding, treatment or prevention of multiple sclerosis. This annual prize is funded through the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. All investigators who are actively engaged in fundamental or clinical research related to multiple sclerosis are eligible for nomination for this prize. The annual award will be made in the amount of $15,000, to be used at the discretion of the winner.
  • The Ralph I. Straus Award for Multiple Sclerosis was established at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 1973 "...to be given to that scientist, or those scientists, of any nationality whatsoever, whose published research shall have resulted in the development of an effective and specific method of preventing or arresting multiple sclerosis in man." The donor of funds to create this award, the late Mr. Ralph I. Straus, was a well-known New York City philanthropist who was president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 1948-1952.
  • Dowload complete information about applying for other Awards and Prizes (.pdf)