Professor Peter C.M. van Zijl was born in Amsterdam and works at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in the USA. He is also the founder of the F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
One of Professor van Zijl’s major, important contributions to research has been in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is often confused with magnetic X-ray. MRI is a medical technology for imaging diagnostics using a magnetic camera. The technology is used to detect and classify diseases and injuries that are difficult to see in an X-ray. Both technologies and methods developed by Professor van Zijl are in use every day, all over the world.
Professor van Zijl has also previously been recognised for his work in developing fibre tractography (the connections between the axons inside the nerve cells in the brain and the functional regions of the brain) and for having described the basic mechanisms behind functional MRI.
– He is, and has been, a mentor to several doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers at Lund University, and his support has been a strong contributory reason why research in the field of MRI in Lund leads the way internationally, says Pia Maly Sundgren, Professor and Head of Office, Diagnostic Radiology.
Stig Ålund is a social worker and has experience as a professional in the municipal sector, including as a Director of Kommunfórbundet Skåne. As a pensioner, he is very active in civil society and holds honorary positions in the Swedish National Pensioners’ Organisation (PRO) at̊ both local and regional level̊ .
Since 2013, Stig Ålund has been an extremely active representative of older people and their organisations in research on the elderly, ageing and health ́that is conducted within the framework of the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE) and the Department of Health Sciences. Among other things, he is chair of the user board.
– Stig Ålund’s commitment has been crucial for the establishment and the national and international recognition of the kind of user involvement in research thatcharacterises the interdisciplinary research within in CASE, says Susanne Iwarsson, Professor of Gerontology and coordinator of CASE.