Prostate Cancer Research Receives a Boost

First Recipients of the CUA-CUOG Astellas Research Grant Program Announced 

MARKHAM, ON, Sept. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Urologic Oncology Group (CUOG), Canadian Urological Association (CUA) and Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. (Astellas) today announced the four inaugural recipients of the CUA-CUOG Astellas Research Grant. Last year, Astellas pledged $450,000 over three years to the program, which supports Canadian peer-reviewed research in uro-oncologic disorders, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.  

"The support from Astellas has been superb in that it affords Canadian researchers the opportunity to continue to perform prostate cancer research with significant global impact. It very much aligns with the strategic directions of the Canadian Uro-Oncology Group,"  said Dr. Neil Fleshner, Chairman of the Canadian Uro-Oncology Group.

In just this first year, the CUA CUOG Astellas Research Grant program was a great success within the uro-oncology research community, receiving 9 high quality applications and four ultimate recipients:

Khurram Siddiqui
Western University
"Achieving the oligometastatic state in end-stage prostate cancer by pharmacologic and genetic manipulation of Invadopodia formed by tumor cells"

Muhammad Abdul Lateef
University of Montreal
"A new strategy for personalized medicine: a microfluidic platform designed to test prostate cancer responses to targeted therapies"

Nader Al Nakouzi
University of British Columbia
"Developing a new and promising orally bioavailable inhibitor Hsp27"

Tal Ben Zvi
Laval University
"Omega 3 fatty acids and prostate cancer: where to measure quantification in RBC, plasma and prostate tissue"

"Astellas is committed to providing important resources and programs that will help further prostate cancer research," said Michael Tremblay, President, Astellas Pharma Canada. "We are proud to support the uro-oncology research community and its efforts to improve the quality of life for prostate cancer patients."

About the Canadian Urological Association (CUA)
The CUA Mission is to represent and provide a voice for all Canadian urologists and to foster dedication of all members of the profession toward ensuring the highest possible standard of urologic care for Canadians.

The goals of the CUA are to:

• To foster and promote excellence in urologic practice through education and research.
• To provide leadership in promoting evidence based clinical practice through the development of practice guidelines.
• To foster and promote life-long learning by Canadian urologists through continuous professional development.
• To provide leadership in public education for urologic diseases.
• To represent Canadian urology in developing and fostering partnerships while maintaining the highest educational and ethical standards.
• To represent the Canadian urologic community in relationships with national and international medical societies.

More information about CUA can be found at www.cua.org

About the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group (CUOG)
The Canadian Urologic Oncology Group (CUOG) is a clinical research investigator network of leading academic and community based urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists, committed to furthering genitourinary (GU) cancer research in Canada. 

CUOG pursues clinical trials in concert with the pharmaceutical industry to find medicines and cures to tackle urological disorders including, but not restricted to:

• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Renal cancer
• Testicular cancer

More information about CUOG can be found at www.cuog.ca

About Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.
Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., headquartered in Markham, ON, is a Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products.

The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. In Canada, Astellas has an intense commercial focus on five therapeutic areas – Urology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology and Oncology.

For more information about Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., please visit the corporate website:  www.astellas.ca

SOURCE: Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

Catherine Millar, Canadian Urological Association, [phone], [email protected]; Michelle Reale, Corporate Communications, Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., [phone], [email protected]