CHERTSEY, England, September 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
$150,000 Grant awarded to the study proposed by the Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands
The 2014 Uro-Oncology Astellas European Foundation Grant has been awarded to a team led by Dr Gabri van der Pluijm to investigate "The Development of a Novel Small Molecule EMT Inhibitor for Clinical Use in Human Bladder Cancer." The project aims to evaluate the potential initiation of a Phase I study for a novel compound to treat bladder cancer. With high-throughput screening of over 35,000 compounds, the team from the Leiden University Medical Centre has selected a novel compound that blocks the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process which is considered a significant step in the development of bladder cancer.
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Dr van der Pluijm said, "We are delighted that the Astellas European Foundation is offering the opportunity to determine the validity of our approach in clinically-relevant models of bladder cancer. Establishing a potential anti-tumor response of our lead compound will pave the way towards the initiation of Phase I clinical trials."
At an event announcing the winner in Madrid, Spain, last night the Astellas European Foundation highlighted the organisation's continued commitment to research and development. Dr Ayad Abdulahad, Astellas European Foundation Trustee and Head of Medical Affairs and Health Economics for Astellas Pharma EMEA commented, "The standard of entries this year was very high and covered a broad range of topics across urological oncology. The Foundation would like to thank all of those who submitted proposals as we received a total of 60 entries from research institutions and hospitals from Europe and also from South Africa. The project led by Dr van der Pluijm and his research team will investigate the potential of a promising therapeutic inhibitor for bladder cancer which is the second most common urological malignancy. This will assess the potential of a compound that may be an additional tool for healthcare professionals and patients tackling this cancer."
The Astellas European Foundation is a registered charity with the long-term goal of providing support for programmes and activities that advance our understanding of medicine and health. The Astellas European Foundation Uro-Oncology Grant supports basic medical and related scientific programmes which contribute to advancements in urological oncology. The winner of the Grant was chosen by a Judging Faculty that includes independent European thought leaders.
The Foundation now offers annual Grants of $150,000 for Uro-Oncology, Functional Urology and Uro-Gynaecology, and Transplantation. For information regarding the Grant process please contact the Astellas European Foundation by email at aef@astellas.com or call +44-203-379-8039.
Notes to Editors
About The Astellas European Foundation
The Astellas European Foundation is a registered charity, formed in 2005, with the long-term goal of providing support for programmes and activities that contribute to the advancement of an increasingly healthy society. In line with this aim, the Foundation has made substantial donations to global charities. The Astellas European Foundation also supports Astellas employees in their private fundraising efforts for charitable causes. The Astellas European Foundation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1036344.
The Astellas European Foundation was established by funding from Astellas Pharma Inc., but operates independently of it.
