Local Researcher Recognized With Prestigious Neuroscience Research Award

Cheryl L. Stucky, PhD

Milwaukee, April 23, 2019 – A researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Cheryl Stucky, PhD received a prestigious research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Javits Neuroscience Award was established by Congress after the death of late New York Senator, Jacob Javits, who passed away from ALS – commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Among other standards, the award is given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional scientific excellence and productivity in one of the areas of neurological research supported by the NIH.

Dr. Stucky is set to use the grant award to conduct research on the pain mechanisms associated with Fabry Disease – a rare lysosome storage disease. While the symptoms of Fabry disease are usually noticeable in early childhood and adolescence, they may not become entirely apparent until later adulthood. Symptoms of the disease include severe burning pain in the hands and feet, decreased sweat production, discomfort in warmer temperatures, and appearance of a reddish to dark blue skin rash mostly commonly seen between the hips and knees.

It is Dr. Stucky’s hope that she and her team will be able to better understand the pain mechanisms of Fabry Disease while potentially uncovering novel therapies to treat the symptoms. These studies will be conducted in collaboration with Nancy Dahms, PhD, who spearheaded the generation of a new rat model of Fabry disease that recapitulates many of the symptoms experienced by patients.

This research, along with research from Jeffrey Medin, PhD who published a study in 2017 highlighting the success of an experimental stem cell trial in treating Fabry Disease, shows MCW’s commitment to providing resources to fuel cutting edge research and therapies to treat understudied diseases such as Fabry Disease and Sickle Cell Disease.

About the Medical College of Wisconsin

With a history dating back to 1893, The Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement.  More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, MCW-Green Bay, and MCW-Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In FY2016, faculty received more than $184 million in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,500 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 525,000 patients annually.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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