UC Irvine Scientist Wins $200,000 Grant for Brain Virus Research

A UC Irvine neurosciences professor has been awarded a prestigious research grant by Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia.

Ian Lipkin, an associate professor of neurology and anatomy, was named a 1991 Pew Scholar in biomedical sciences. He is among 20 Pew scholars chosen from medical colleges and research institutions across the United States for their promise in basic science or clinical research to advance human health.

The award will provide Lipkin with $200,000 over four years to support his research, UC Irvine spokesman Randall Black said.

Lipkin’s studies focus on the potential role of viruses in neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Lipkin and colleagues were the first to identify a virus responsible for Borna disease, a behavioral disorder found in horses, dogs and other mammals.