Gian Domenico Borasio, MD, DipPallMed, is professor and acting chairman of the Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine, and head of the motor neurone disease research group at the Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Germany. He is speaker of the Working Group on Palliative Care of the German Neurological Association. Dr. Borasio and his team have established the Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine at Munich University Hospital, which comprises a consult service, a 10-bed dedicated inpatient unit, and an Education Center for Palliative Care. In 2003, the Center has received the University Award of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care. Clinical and research interests of Dr. Borasio include Palliative Care in ALS and neurological disorders, Quality of Life assessment in Palliative Care, as well as advance directives and the communication process in end-of-life decisions. Dr. Borasio is a member of five editorial boards and has written, edited, or co-edited 4 books and over 150 papers. In 1999, Dr. Borasio received the ALS research prize from the German Society for Neuromuscular Disease, in 2001 the Charcot Young Investigator Award from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, UK, and in 2003 the Annual Award of the German Society for Palliative Medicine.
