PENZBERG, Germany, November 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
First Presentation of Roche Science Award
The three winners of the first Roche Pharma Research & Development (pRED) Oncology Awards in the field of 'Novel Highly tumour-selective Membrane Targets for Antibody-based Cancer Therapy' have been selected.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131120/654191 )
Krishna Chaitanya of the Oncological Institute at the University Hospital Zurich received the first prize for his outstanding studies on a radioisotope-coupled antibody against fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which provide a new approach to attacking tumor stroma. Tumor stroma consists of cells which support the growth of tumors. The 2nd prize went to Christian Jost of the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Zurich for a completely novel concept enabling the inactivation of the HER2 receptor with small, non-antibody based binding molecules. Vineeta Bhasker Tripathi from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London received the 3rd prize for her studies on the validation of Lrg 1 (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1) as a new target molecule for the suppression of blood vessel formation in tumors with the aid of function-inhibiting antibodies.
The competitors judged to be the ten best presented their studies in mid-November at the Penzberg Roche works to an audience of experts. A panel of university researchers and Roche experts chose the three victors. At the award ceremony in the evening, they received cash awards to the tune of 4,000, 2,000 and 1,000 euro.
"We are delighted by the outstanding quality and great number of submissions on this vital cancer research topic," commented Klaus Bosslet, Head of Discovery Oncology, and initiator of the award. "For the first award of a prize, this is an extraordinary result."
The pRED Oncology science award for outstanding European research work in the field of antibody-based cancer therapy was presented for the first time this year by the Discovery Oncology Unit in Penzberg. It honors innovative cancer research and emphasizes the commitment to more intensive collaboration with higher education institutions which Roche has been advocating for years.
Roche plans to continue the successful event in 2014 with a new exciting subject.
About Roche pRED
Roche's Pharma Research and Early Development organization - Roche pRED - consists of some 2,500 scientists and clinicians with a shared vision of excellence in science, a proud heritage of healthcare innovation and a commitment to deliver new and effective medicines to patients. Working in partnership with Roche's world-leading Diagnostics Division, Roche pRED strives to make personalized healthcare a reality, and change the practice of medicine for future generations. Roche pRED focuses on four therapeutic areas: oncology, neuroscience, virology and cardiovascular-metabolism at six strategic sites worldwide. For more information: http://www.roche.com
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, infectious diseases, inflammation, metabolism and neuroscience. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2012 Roche had over 82,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com.
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For further information please contact:
Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Dr. Johannes Ritter
Head of Communication Penzberg
Phone: +49-8856-60-4223
Email: johannes.ritter@roche.com
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