John Prineas

Professor John Prineas is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney's Central Clinical School. He graduated with an honours degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney in 1958, followed by a professional internship at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He then undertook eight years of training in neurology and neurological research in the United Kingdom. In 1972, he was appointed Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Sydney, where he taught and conducted research. Subsequently, he served as Professor of Neurology at New Jersey Medical School and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, enjoying a distinguished career in the United States. Upon retiring in 1999, Prineas returned to Sydney as Honorary Professor in the Department of Medicine, continuing his research and supervising postgraduate students.

Prineas' early research centered on peripheral nerve diseases, where he identified chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy as a distinct condition. He has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the neuropathology and neuroimmunology of multiple sclerosis, essential for developing effective treatments. His work has garnered worldwide attention, with papers published in leading international journals such as Annals of Neurology, often accompanied by editorials. Key publications include 'Relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis: pathology of the newly forming lesion' (Annals of Neurology, 2004), 'NG2-positive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in adult human brain and multiple sclerosis lesions' (Journal of Neuroscience, 2000), 'Multiple sclerosis: Remyelination of nascent lesions' (Annals of Neurology, 1993), 'Remyelination in multiple sclerosis' (Annals of Neurology, 1979), and a recent study on 'Microglia subtypes in acute, subacute, and chronic multiple sclerosis' (Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 2023). His lifetime achievements in multiple sclerosis research were honored with the Charcot Award from the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation in 2009, making him the first Australian recipient. In 2011, he received an honorary Doctor of Medicine from the University of Sydney and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to medicine in the field of neurology through multiple sclerosis research.

Professional Email: john.prineas@sydney.edu.au