Dr Kristen Krysko is the winner of the 2025 Rachel Horne prize for her outstanding research into how best to guide and treat women with MS during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Dr Krysko is a neurologist at the BARLO MS Centre at St. Michael's Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in Canada.
Her work includes how to optimise treatment strategies, and understanding the safety of MS therapies before and during pregnancy and postpartum while breastfeeding. Her research has also focused on the increased risk and prevalence of permpartum mental illness in mothers with MS.
This year the annual award honours an early to mid-career female scientist for her exceptional contribution to women's health research in MS.
"We are delighted to celebrate Dr Kristen Krysko as this year's winner," said Dr Marwa Kaisey, chair of International Women in MS, the organisation which oversees the review and judging process.
"Her pioneering research on women's health in MS, especially around pregnancy and childbirth, is already shaping how we counsel and care for women with MS, with the potential to transform quality of life for countless families. Recognising rising stars like Dr Krysko is vital to the future of our field and underscores the importance of continued investment in MS research to improve the lives of those with MS."
The award will be presented at the 41st Congress of the European Committee for Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Barcelona, Spain, on 26 September 2025.
