50.000 Euro in Stockholm 16.12.2003
Riitta Salmelin does spearhead research on the highest international level. By studying the working human brain she has been able to describe some of the neural mechanisms behind reading and writing problems (dyslexia) in children and adults. In her research plan she describes exciting projects to investigate other neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research is pioneering and her research potential very promising. Her application is of a very high quality, carefully worked through and extremely well-turned.
A condition for meaningful treatment of children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders is an understanding of which neurological mechanisms that do not develop normally. Salmelin carries on a problem oriented and cross scientific research where with very advanced methods she has been able first to map out how these mechanisms normally work and then to make a survey of control imperfections in persons with dyslexia.
She is a trained physicists and in her research she has developed and used very advanced and partly unique procedures. She works with the very exclusive magnetic encephalographic method (MEG) which is available only in a few places in the world. By this method the discharge of active nerve cells in the brain can be localized. In an impressive way she has familiarized herself with complex neuro-scientific issues and leads a research group with a multi-disciplinary background. Her research gives evidence of her talent for cooperation within a broad spectrum of different academic specialities.
17.12.2003/ Peter Berglund