[Neurotrophic factors in the CNS. Increasing numbers of proteins with clinical potential]

The great Anders Jahre Prize, for 1995, for medical research, is to be shared by Professor Lars Olson, Stockholm, and Professor Anders Björklund, Lund. Lars Olson is one of the pioneers responsible for mapping the neural pathways of the brain. He has also systematically studied the mechanisms underlaying nerve cell growth and clucidated the growth factors involved. Our knowledge of the proteins necessary to neuron survival, nerve fibre growth, and the maintenance of synapses is increasing very rapidly. In a long-term perspective, this will open up new approaches to the treatment of a number of neuropathological diseases, eg, Parkinson's disease, and to the repair of nerve tissue, eg, after stroke.