health & wellness

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Stroke researcher earns honors
for his ground-breaking work.

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May 28 • 2015

JN

n air of bittersweet irony
and neurodegenerative diseases; and
touched the ceremony
the development of neuroprotective
when Michael Chopp,
and neurorestorative therapies for neu-
Ph.D., accepted an honorary doctorate
rological diseases.
from Romania's Cluj Napoca Medical
He pioneered research on restor-
University earlier this month.
ing or "remodeling" the central and
"My maternal grandparents had to
peripheral nervous systems using cell
leave there in the 1920s," Chopp says,
and drug therapies to help reduce
referring to the anti-Semitism and
neurological damage and enhance
pogroms that followed the post-World
recovery from stroke, brain injury and
War I annexation of Transylvania to
neurodegenerative disease.
Romania. "This honor is an interesting
Chopp and colleagues were among
reversal of history:'
the first to identify the gen-
Chopp, an internationally
eration of new brain cells and
renowned stroke researcher
blood vessels after stroke and
and scientific director of the
neural injury. They were also
Neuroscience Institute at
the first to use injected stem
Henry Ford Hospital, is no
cells and cell-based therapies to
stranger to acclaim, the rab-
treat neurological diseases, and
binical tradition or Metro
to identify how cell-based and
Detroit's Jewish community.
drug therapies stimulate the
Dr. Mich ael
A Southfield resident,
nervous system's own restor-
Chopp
member of Young Israel of
ative abilities.
This work has transformed
Southfield and one-time
board member of Akiva Hebrew Day
the way we now think about the treat-
School, Chopp was for many years a
ment of neurological disease and
talmudic scholar before choosing phys- injury.
ics and then neuroscience as a career.
Chopp has more than 600 peer-
After joining the Henry Ford Health
reviewed publications and 50 book
System in 1983, he was appointed vice
chapters, and has given more than
chairman for research of its Neurology 400 plenary lectures and invited pre-
Department in 1991, scientific direc-
sentations. He has chaired National
tor of the Henry Ford Neuroscience
Institutes of Health study sections and
Institute in 1999 and is the Zoltan
has often served as a consultant to
J. Kovacs Chair in Neuroscience
government agencies, the U.S. National
Research. Chopp is also Distinguished
Institutes of Health and the pharma-
Professor of Physics at Oakland
ceutical industry.
University in Rochester.
He is a doctoral supervisor for grad-
Among his many honors is the pres-
uate students from Oakland University,
tigious 2015 Thomas Willis Lecture
and additionally mentors college and
Award, recognizing major contribu-
high school students at his research
tions to the investigation and man-
lab. Teams of high school students
agement of stroke. The annual award
performing research in his laboratory
is made by the International Stroke
have received prestigious Siemens
Conference Program Committee and
Awards. Chopp strongly believes that
the American Stroke Association's
guiding young students is imperative
Council on Stroke of the American
for progress in science.
Heart Association.
"For our future, it is essential for
scientists to expose, inspire and nur-
Stroke Breakthroughs
ture young people he explains. "Few
Chopp was also honored last year with
people have an opportunity to experi-
the Abraham White Distinguished
ence the excitement of discovery and
Science Award for his discovery of the
the wonder of life by asking questions
role of Thymosin beta-4 in the treat-
and seeking answers.
ment of brain injuries and neurode-
"When a student sees that she or he
generative diseases.
can spend their life in a state of awe
His research is focused on the cel-
of nature, doing good by seeking to
lular and molecular biology of cell
understand and treat disease, and can
injury; the neurovascular pathophysi-
lead a full and passionate life, the stu-
ology of stroke, traumatic brain injury
dent is hooked on science:'

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