Professor Ludwig Kappos wins the prestigious MS Charcot Award

Professor Ludwig Kappos wins the MS Charcot Award

MSIF is proud to announce Professor Ludwig Kappos as the recipient of the 2025 Charcot Award, the highest international accolade for a lifetime of exceptional achievement in MS research. 

This prestigious award honours Professor Kappos’ decades-long leadership, which has helped redefine the landscape of MS diagnosis, treatment, and patient care globally. 

‘We are delighted to present the 2025 Charcot Award to Professor Kappos, whose dedication to the cause of MS research has directly improved outcomes for people living with MS across the globe.’  – Dr Lydia Makaroff, CEO, MSIF  

About Professor Ludwig Kappos 

Professor Ludwig Kappos is an internationally renowned neurologist and one of the most influential figures in modern MS research. Born in Erlangen, Germany and raised in Athens, Greece, he obtained his M.D. and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Würzburg, Germany. Early in his career, he led the MS Clinical Research Group of the Max Planck Society in Würzburg before moving to the University of Basel in 1990. From 2008 to 2020, he served as Chair of Neurology at the University Hospital Basel, and since 2019, he has directed the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), a globally recognised centre of excellence. 

‘I feel extremely grateful and honoured – well knowing that this award is deserved by my colleagues in the team here in Basel and the many excellent clinicians, scientists and dear friends with whom I had the privilege to work in international projects.’  – Professor Kappos.

A lifetime of achievement in MS research 

For over 30 years, Professor Kappos has been at the forefront of MS research. His lasting contributions are truly something to be celebrated.  

‘Professor Ludwig Kappos is one of the greatest researchers and MS clinicians of all time. He has led pivotal clinical trials shaping nearly all modern MS therapies and has pioneered biomarker development and digital assessments… A global leader, he has mentored generations of researchers and shaped MS guidelines. With over 850 peer-reviewed publications, his lasting impact on MS research and care makes him a very much deserving recipient of this award.’ – Professor Xavier Montalban, MD, PhD, FEAN, FAAN, FCAHS Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Spain 

Transforming MS treatment through clinical trials 

Professor Kappos has been a central figure in the development of nearly every major MS treatment approved in the last three decades. He served as principal investigator or steering committee member for pivotal Phase 2 and 3 trials of disease-modifying therapies including interferons, natalizumab, fingolimod, dimethylfumarate, teriflunomide, ocrelizumab, siponimod, and of atumumab. 

These therapies have revolutionised MS care by offering more effective, safer, and increasingly personalised treatment options for both relapsing and progressive forms of MS. 

Advancing our scientific understanding of MS: Imaging and biomarker discovery

Beyond treatment development, Professor Kappos has led the integration of standardised clinical measures, digital and body fluid biomarkers and neuroimaging into MS research and clinical practice. His work on standardised clinical assessment, MRI-based assessments and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker has enabled earlier, more accurate monitoring of disease activity and progression. 

He has also been one of the main proponents of the concept of PIRA (Progression Independent of Relapse Activity), contributing significantly to how progression in MS is understood and measured. 

‘Professor Kappos’s impact on the MS field is undeniable. His contributions have not only advanced our scientific knowledge but have also translated directly into improved clinical care for individuals with MS worldwide.’ – Professor Bassem I Yamout, MD, FAAN, Professor of Neurology and director of the Neurology Institute at Harley Street Medical Center in Abu Dhabi and President, MENACTRIMS

A dedicated mentor and leader

Professor Kappos is also a devoted mentor, educator, and collaborator and an inspirational figure for the generation of MS researchers succeeding him. He has trained and supported countless clinicians and scientists, many of whom are now leading MS research programmes worldwide. He has held leadership positions in key global MS movements, including ECTRIMS, the European Charcot Foundation, and the European Academy of Neurology.  

‘His commitment to scientific excellence and collaboration has fostered a global network of researchers dedicated to improving MS care. His leadership in international consortia and MS research initiatives has significantly strengthened the collective effort to combat this disease.’ – Professor Jens Kuhle, MD, PhD, RC2NB

A Global Legacy 

We invite the global MS community to join MSIF in celebrating Professor Kappos’ achievements and lifelong dedication to advancing knowledge, care, and hope in the field of MS. His research has set standards across clinical trial methodology, imaging, and treating MS.  

‘Ludwig Kappos is a man of boundless energy and infectious optimism, an incredibly generous colleague, an inspiring mentor, and a spectacular contributor to our field.’ – Professor Stephen L. Hauser, MD Director, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences Professor, Department of Neurology 

About the Charcot Award 

Named after Jean Martin Charcot, the physician who first diagnosed MS in 1868, the Charcot Award is presented every two years by MSIF to honour a lifetime of outstanding research into the understanding or treatment of multiple sclerosis. 

The award will be formally presented at the ECTRIMS Congress (24-26 September), where Professor Kappos will deliver the prestigious Charcot Lecture. 

Explore past recipients and learn more about the award here.