Prof. Ludwig Kappos Recognized for His Lifetime Achievement in Multiple Sclerosis Research at ECTRIMS 2025

At the 41st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Ludwig Kappos, MD, Dipl Psych, FEAN, FAAN was recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Charcot Award. According to ECTRIMS, the Charcot Award, which is presented by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), is the highest international recognition for lifetime achievement in multiple sclerosis (MS). The award was presented during the closing plenary session of the Congress, with Prof. Kappos presenting a Charcot Lecture on the topic of developing therapeutics for people with MS.

In an announcement from ECTRIMS, the organization describes Prof. Kappos as a driving force in MS research and clinical care, with a more than 30-year legacy in the field. Prof. Kappos has overseen pivotal clinical trials that established both early disease-modifying therapies and newer treatments for relapsing and progressive MS, working to expand the number of therapies available, enabling physicians to provide more personalized options for their patients.

In a statement from the MSIF, the Foundation cites Prof. Kappos’s contributions to advancing the way MS is studied and defined in their reasons for naming him the 2025 Charcot Award recipient. In particular, Prof. Kappos spearheaded efforts to better measure disease progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). Additionally, Prof. Kappos has been an advocate for incorporating imaging, biomarkers, and digital tools into routine assessment. The Charcot Award recognizes his sustained impact on improving MS outcomes worldwide.

Prof. Kappos is currently the CEO of the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), a nonprofit organization founded by the University Hospital Basel with participation from the University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland.