A researcher with the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia has been awarded a prize for her work on vitamin D and cognition.
The Fritz Wrwag Research Prize was presented to Dr. Jacqueline Pettersen, a cognitive-behavioural neurologist, on May 9 in Berlin, Germany.
Her study, which was published in Experimental Gerontology in 2017, demonstrated a significant improvement in visual memory in people who were provided 4,000 International Units of vitamin D per day over 18 weeks.
The award, which includes an 8,000-Euro ($12,000 Cdn) cash prize, was established in 1988 by Wrwag Pharma, a German family-owned company, that specializes in nutrients, and it was only the ninth time that the prize has been given out in 30 years.
"To know that my work is being noticed, and to receive such recognition, provides an incredible sense of validation that my research is important and impactful, not just at a local level, but on the world stage," Pettersen said.
Pettersen was one of two recipients and the only one from North America.
"It was a wonderful experience to be able to meet other researchers from around the world whose interests overlap with mine, and I am excited about the potential opportunities that may arise for international collaboration on future research.
"I am passionate about the importance of healthy living for disease prevention. I look forward to continuing my work in the area of vitamin D and cognition in particular, but also more broadly, in nutrition and cognition."
