Prostate cancer researchers awarded funding

Markham, ON – The Canadian Urologic Oncology Group, the Canadian Urological Association and Astellas Pharma Canada 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.  

“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.

The four recipients are as follows:

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.”