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September 30, 2021

The Honda Prize 2021 Awarded to Dr. Alim Louis Benabid, Professor Emeritus ofJoseph Fourier University and Chairman of the Board of Clinatec*—Pioneering research into deep brain stimulation (DBS)*1 and its contribution to practicalapplication for the treatment of involuntary movement caused by Parkinson’s disease*2 andother neurological disorders*Clinatec : Clinatec, Edmond J. Safra Biomedical Research Center

The Honda Foundation, the public interest incorporated foundation established by Soichiro
Honda and his younger brother Benjiro and currently led by President Hiroto Ishida, ispleased to announce that the Honda Prize 2021 will be awarded to Dr. Alim Louis Benabid,
Professor Emeritus of Joseph Fourier University and Chairman of the Board of Clinatec,
Edmond J. Safra Biomedical Research Center, both of France, for his contribution to pioneeringresearch and practical application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the treatment ofinvoluntary movement caused by progressive Parkinson’s disease and other neurologicaldisorders.
The Honda Prize, established in 1980 and awarded once each year, is an international award
that recognizes the work of individuals or groups generating new knowledge to drive the nextgeneration, from the standpoint of ecotechnology*3. Dr. Benabid was the first to make use ofDBS for the treatment of involuntary movement, caused mainly by progressive Parkinson’s
disease, and other neurological disorders and to succeed in its practical application. DBS is asurgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in the subthalamic nucleus in the brain.
Stimulation by high-frequency electric current from electrodes reduces tremors and restoresthe motor function of Parkinson’s disease patients. Recognition of its effectiveness in clinicalstudies led to the dissemination of DBS worldwide, with more than 150,000 patients
undergoing this procedure to date.
If involuntary tremors cannot be controlled with drug therapy considered best suited to treat
Parkinson’s disease, a surgical procedure known as thalamotomy was commonly performed
to destroy a tiny portion of the brain. On the other hand, DBS is a reversible procedure inwhich the implanted electrodes can not only be removed but also adjusted to fine-tune thestrength of the current. DBS can be used to treat not only Parkinson’s but also dystonia and-1-other motor disorders, and contributes to improving the quality of life of many, including
restoring the ability to stand alone, for example. The Prize will be awarded to Dr. Benabid forthis innovative treatment method, which is worthy of the highest recognition.
This year, the presentation ceremony for the 42nd Honda Prize will be held on November 17,
2021, in an online format. The medal and certification, along with an honorarium of 10 million
yen, will be presented to Dr. Benabid.
<Research by Dr. Alim Louis Benabid >Thalamotomy was developed in 1947 as a surgical procedure for treating Parkinson’s disease.
This procedure, aimed at thermally destroying nerve cells in a tiny portion of the brain (eitherthe thalamus or palladium) that had been activated by the disease, was commonly practiced
in the 1950s through 1960s. Although the number of surgeries declined with the developmentof drugs (L-dopa) that compensate for the drop in dopamine levels, there were side effects andproblems of medication over a long period of time (once started, continuing for a lifetime fora majority of cases), drawing renewed interest in surgical procedures.
Because the existing procedure, which aimed at thermal destruction of the target, wasirreversible, Dr. Benabid explored safer and more effective treatment methods since 1980s. In
the procedure to burn a target in the brain with heat, electrical stimulation was used to predict
the effect of the surgery. Dr. Benabid placed electrodes around the target site and stimulated
them at the physiological frequency range of 20–50 Hz. While observing the movements of thepatient during simulation, he noticed that electrical stimulation stopped tremors at highfrequency around 130 Hz. He proceeded to conduct tests from very low frequencies of 1, 5 and
10 Hz to up to 100 Hz and found that effects similar to the existing surgical procedure could
be achieved at 130 Hz without destroying the brain tissue.
After Dr. Benabid’s discovery that electrodes placed in the subthalamic nucleus and sending
adjustablehigh-frequency

simulation

producesthesameimprovement

asstereoencephalotomy, he conducted the first thalamic stimulation treatment on an advanced
Parkinson’s patient for the first time in the world in 1987, and subthalamic stimulation
treatment for the first time in the world in 1997. Reports of the mitigation of tremors andmuscle rigidity and of favorable results after five years led to DBS becoming the mainstream
treatment method for Parkinson’s around the world.
When DBS is applied to surgery for globus pallidus internus (GPi), it is reported to produce
dramatic improvements in persons suffering from deformity of the legs with dystonia(abnormal contraction of the muscles that cause unnatural posture and movement), enabling-2-them to walk. DBS is also being used in Germany to treat depression by targeting thehabenular nucleus. In the United States, it is being used to target stimulation of thehippocampus for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. It is also applied to restore normal function
to neural circuits in the brain, when drug therapy does not show any improvement, and has
contributed to improving the quality of life for many people.

"Make people happy with technology." This is the fundamental vision for ecotechnology set
out by Soichiro Honda. The achievements of Dr. Benabid have been recognized as worthy ofthe Honda Prize. For these reasons, the Prize will be awarded to Dr. Alim Louis Benabid.
*1 Deep brain stimulation (DBS): Electrodes are implanted around the subthalamic nucleus of thebrain, along with a stimulation generator placed in the chest. The two are connected with a lead forhigh-frequency electrical stimulation. This aids in restoring movement functions, and curbing
tremors and other symptoms for improved mobility in everyday living.
*2 Parkinson’s disease: Disorder in the function that makes movement adjustments, caused byinsufficient production of the neurotransmitter dopamine that carries commands from the cerebral
cortex to muscles throughout the body. It progresses slowly over many years, causing movement
problems such as tremors at rest (small tremors of the limbs while at rest), akinesia (reducedspeed, frequency and range of movement), muscular rigidity (difficulty in moving the joints whentrying to move the arm or leg) and impairment of postural reflexes (inability to restore posturalbalance when losing the center of gravity).
*3 Ecotechnology: a neologism combining imaging of the natural world (ecology), including
civilization as a whole, and technology. Advocated by the Honda Foundation in 1979, it seeks newtechnological concepts required by human society in the sense of coexistence of people andtechnology.

For more information, contact the Honda Foundation via:
phone at +81-3-3274-5125 or fax at +81-3-3274-5103
Honda Yaesu Building, 2-6-20 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028, Japan
https://www.hondafoundation.jp/en/
You may also contact Honda Motor’s Corporate PR Department via phone at +81-3-54121512.

-3-Alim Louis Benabid, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Biophysics: Joseph Fourier University Medical School
Honorary Professor at Institut Universitaire de France(Senior Member)
Scientific Advisor to the Director of Technological Research at CEA(Atomic Energy Agency)
Chairman of the Board of the Clinatec Institute at CEA Grenoble
Born
May 2, 1942, Grenoble, France (French citizenship)
Education and Training
Medical Degrees (University of Grenoble)
1970
MD Thesis
1972
Staff Neurosurgeon
1978
Professor, Experimental Medicine
1984
Professor, Biophysics
1989-2004 Head of Neurosurgery
Scientific Degrees (University of Grenoble)
1973
Masters of Science
1978
Thesis (PhD) Physics
Military Service: Lyon (CRSSA Research Center of the Military Health Services)
Oct 1967-Apr 1969
Member of Scientific Societies
19771980
1981
1998
1999
2000

European Society for Stereotaxy and Functional Neurosurgery
American Society for Neurosciences
European Society for Neurosciences
Society for Movement Disorders
American Association of Neurological SurgeonsCongress of Neurological Surgeons (USA)

Scientific Responsibilities
1978-2007
1984-1990
1988-2007
1995-1997
20072008-2021

Director of LMCEC (Laboratoire de Médecine et Chirurgie Expérimentales et Comparées)
and then Laboratoire de Neurobiophysique
Director of IRMBM (Institut de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale)
Director of Research Unit INSERM 318 (Neurobiologie Préclinique)
Director of Center for Gene Therapy “Brain Tumors”
Director of the Clinatec Institute Project at CEA Grenoble
Chairman of the Board, Clinatec, Biomedical Research Center Edmond, Safra,CEA,Grenoble

Medical Responsibilities
1989-2004

Head of Neurosurgery Department -Coordinator of the Epilepsy and Movement Disorders
Center “Claudio Munari”, Niguarda ca Grande Hospital, Milano, Italy

Administrative Responsibilities
Scientific Council of:
1976-1986 Medical School Grenoble
1976-1986 University of Grenoble
Administrative Council of:
1989-1993 INSERM (appointed by the Ministry)
2006-2012 Science Advisory Committee of ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) Special Advisor
2007Scientific Advisor of the Director of Research and Technology at CEA
2016Scientific Advisory Board of the WYSS Foundation, Geneva
Prizes and Honors
1971
1972
1993
1994
1996
1997
1999

2000

2002

2005
2006
2007
2008

2009
2012
2013
2014

2015
2016

2021

Prix Beytout
Prix de Thèse de l'Université de Grenoble
Prix Electricité-Santé de l'EDF
Prix du Club de la Presse de l'Isère
Prix Médecine et Biologie du Comité du Rayonnement Français
Grand Prix de la Recherche Biomédicale PCL de l'Académie des Sciences
Prix de l'œuvre Scientifique (Fondation Nationale pour la Promotion de la Santé,et le Développement de la Recherche, Algérie)Prix Jean Valade. Fondation de France
Prix Klaus Joachim Zülch. Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation (Cologne)
Scientific Award 2000. International Neurobionics Foundation (Hannover)Cotzias Award, Spanish Society of Neurology, Barcelona
Sherrington Medal of the Royal Society of Medecine , London
Prix Recherche et Santé de l’ Institut des Sciences et de la Santé
Prix Betty and David Koetser Foundation (Zurich)Prix Dingebauer of the German Society of Neurology (Manheim)
Spiegel and Wycis Medal of the WFSSN, RomaPrix Matmut de l'Innovation médicale et de la Fondation de l'avenir
James Parkinson Award, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, New York,Victor Horsley Medal, London, UK
Movement Disorders Award of the American Academy of Neurology
First International Highest Recognition Award of the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
Washington.DCPrix d’Honneur de l’INSERM
Victoires de la Médecine, Association of University Hospitals for the last 50 Years
IPSEN Prize, IPSEN Foundation
Légion d’Honneur (Officer)
Pritzker Prize, Michael J Fox Foundation
Jay van Andel Prize, Jay van Andel Foundation
Lasker Prize
Breakthrough Prize for Life Sciences
Lifetime Achievement Prize
Giant in Neuromodulation Award
European Inventor Award Research
Ambroise Paré Medal (French Academy of Surgery)
Vilhelm Magnus Medal, Norwegian Neurosurgical Society
2021 International Brain Stimulation AwardJean Talairach Award, SSFN

Honoris Causa Doctorates
20052006
2008
2012
2018

Doctor Honoris Causa University of Galway, Ireland
Doctor Honoris Causa University of London, Ontario
Doctor Honoris Causa McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Doctor Honoris Causa Porto University, Porto, Portugal
Doctor Honoris Causa KUL, Leuwen, Belgique
Doctor Honoris Causa Chan Tun University, Taipei, TaiwanMedals and Academies
19971999
2002

2012
2016
2021

Chevalier des Palmes Académiques
Member (corresponding) of Academy of Medicine
Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur
Member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
Member of the Academy of Sciences, Institut de France
Officier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur
Officier des Palmes Académiques
Commandeur des Palmes Académiques

Honorary Membership of Scientific Societies:
1998
2007

2008
2012
2016
2017

Belgian Society of Neurology
Spanish Society of Neurosurgery
Japanese Society of Neurosurgery
Italian League against Epilepsy
Movement Disorders Society
German Clinical Neurophysiology Society
Brazilian Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery Society
Spanish Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery

Published Articles From Web of Science
January 2021: h-index 96/95
Results found Sum of the Times Cited 42272 Citing Articles 1357
Published Articles From Google scholar
May 2021: h-index 107
Results found 336 articles Sum of the Times Cited 50842 Citing Articles
Publications
Benabid AL, Pollak P, Louveau A, Henry S, de Rougemont J: Combined (thalamotomy and stimulation)
stereotactic surgery of the VIM thalamic nucleus for bilateral Parkinson disease. Appl Neurophysiol,1987,
50:344-346.
Krack P, Pollak P, Limousin P, Benazzouz A, Benabid AL. Stimulation of subthalamic nucleusalleviatestremor
in Parkinson's disease. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1675.
Krack P, Limousin P, Benabid AL, Pollak P. Chronic stimulation of subthalamic nucleus improves levodopainduced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1676.
Limousin P, Krack P, Pollak P, Benazzouz A, Ardouin C, Hoffmann D, Benabid AL: Electrical stimulationof the subthalamic nucleus in advanced Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 1998 Oct 15;339(16):1105-1111.