Neil Cashman, Professor in the Division of Neurology and Director of the ALS Clinic at GF Strong Rehabilitation Hospital, is a world leader in research and clinical activities pertaining to prion and neurodegenerative disease. His contributions are the foundation for our understanding of protein misfolding disease, including mad cow disease, and motor neuron diseases, such as ALS. He is a pioneer in these fields, and his work has transformed the research landscape in Canada, leading to generation of several policy and research networks, including the $35 million federally funded Network Centre of Excellence called PrioNet Canada.