University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) neurologist Charles Thornton, M.D. has received a Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health to further his research on muscular dystrophy. The unique award provides exceptional researchers with seven years of uninterrupted funding.

The Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award was created by the U.S. Congress in 1983 and is named in honor of former U.S. Senator Jacob Javits (NY), who was the victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The $2.3 million grant is administered by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and is given to scientists who have demonstrated exceptional scientific excellence and productivity in their field.

Making progress on treating paralytic diseases is difficult and requires a dedicated team of clinicians and researchers, said Thornton, the Saunders Family Distinguished Professor in Neuromuscular Research. To bring a team together and keep it together over the long run, you need a stable stream of financial support. This award will help us continue our work through a very important stage when new therapies are being tested and others are on the horizon.