Posthumous, served as Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University at Buffalo
Head of the Jacobs Neurological Institute at Buffalo General Hospital
Watercove Award 2012
Larry Jacobs was known as a teacher and researcher who inspired students and colleagues alike. Dr. Jacobs earned his medical degree from St. Louis University. He was Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Buffalo, Director of the William C. Baird Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, founding member and the American Academy of Neurology Education and Research Foundation, Board Member of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, and was past president of the American Society of Neuroimaging. The innovative accomplishment that ACP is recognizing Dr. Jacobs for is his groundbreaking research on ear- ly treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon. His research led to the FDA approval of interferon beta-1a, Avonex, the widely prescribed drug for patients suffering from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Larry has been described as friendly, humorous, and supportive to his clinical and research teams, support staff, students, patients, and their families. His caring ways were apparent to all, and he was universally admired and loved. Larry Jacobs passed away in 2001 but his innovative approach to MS treatment is embodied in the recent development of additional novel medicines for improving the prospects for people with MS.
