Teruna Siahaan, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at Kansas University, has won a research grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Siahaan will use the award to investigate experimental treatments for Multiple Sclerosis involving a compound of his own discovery.

The $217,595 grant will support Siahaan’s work on a compound called PLP-BPI, which contains myelin proteins and molecules that stop immune cells from damaging the nervous system. Siahaan developed PLP-BPI himself.

A committee of more than 70 eminent scientists who peer review hundreds of research proposals each year awarded the grant to Siahaan in May.