09/03/2011

ACE Foundation, Catalan Institute of Applied Neuroscience, directed by Lluís Tàrraga and Mercè Boada, also leader of the Alzheimer group at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), celebrated its 15th anniversary with a ceremony in the Auditorium of Barcelona. Dr. Chester A. Mathis, Professor of Radiology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and director of the Unit for Positron Emission Tomography (PET), at the University of Pittsburgh, received the first ‘Joan Boada y Mercè Rovira’ Award of ACE Foundation for his contribution to the development of Pittsburg compund-B (PiB), first ray tracer that allowed display of beta-amyloid plaques in the human brain using PET technology and new insights into Alzheimer's disease.Throughout the day met Alzheimer's patients, families and scientists who reviewed the ACE Foundation's contribution as a center of reference in Spain dedicated to providing comprehensive and multidisciplinary care to people suffering from this disease. Among other guests, such as the Catalonian Regional Minister of Health, Boi Ruiz, and President of the Parliament of Catalunya, Núria de Gispert, participated VHIR director, Dr. Joan Comella, who showed the relationship between Dr . Boada and Vall d'Hebron and the importance of collaboration between the two institutions.