LSU Health’s Bazan Recognized Internationally for Outstanding Contributions

DZNE German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases within the Helmholtz Association in Bonn, Germany honored Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, Boyd Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans, for his outstanding contributions to the field of neurodegenerative diseases. Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Nicotera, DZNE Scientific Director and Chairman of the Executive Board, presented Dr. Bazan with the award at a ceremony followed by Bazan’s DZNE Award Lecture on elovanoids.

Bazan’s lab discovered elovanoids, a new class of molecules in the brain that synchronize cell-to-cell communication and neuroinflammation/immune activity in response to injury or diseases. Elovanoids (ELVs) are bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs,n-3). They are released on demand when cells are damaged or stressed.

Bazan is the third recipient of the DZNE Award Lecture.