Dr Marcelo Matiello, who is currently finishing a Masters Degree in Neurosciences, will undertake his 2 year Fellowship with Prof Brian Weinshenker and colleagues at the internationally renowned Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.

During his Fellowship Dr Matiello will be learning the principles of DNA analysis, assisting with HLA genotyping studies and chart-based clinical studies, as well as using software to analyze sequences from patients to identify variations in individuals with neuromyelitis optica, a severe form of MS that is especially frequent in Brazil. At the end of the Fellowship Dr Matiello will return to Brazil and independently conduct similar work in genetic association and linkage studies on candidate genes.

In his application Dr Matiello expressed that the research work the Mayo Clinic undertakes is “most innovative and outstanding, and which promises to advance our understanding and treatment of this condition [MS]”

Dr Matiello said “Upon hearing the news regarding the Du Pré Fellowship I immediately thought about the special role my parents and professors have played in this great achievement. At the same time I remembered my MS patients, who do more than inspire researchers; they remind us how much further we have to go. Thank you so much, I'm very honoured by this prestigious award and am both happy and grateful to be able to train in a premier neurological centre with leading MS researchers. It is a great opportunity to help me do more for people with MS not only in Brazil but worldwide.”

Dr Matiello’s nomination was overwhelmingly supported by his peers - Prof Regina Alvarenga, Head Professor of Neurology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State; Prof Abelardo Araújo, Head of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology Hospital Barra D’Or and Dr Xavier Montalban, Head of Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Vall d’hebron Univeristy Hospital, Spain.