Swiss and Austrian Researchers Win Astellas European Foundation Grant to Investigate Link Between Overactive Bladder Syndrome and Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis
CHERTSEY, England, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
$150,000 Grant awarded to study led by Dr Marianne Gamper
The Astellas European Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2014 Functional Urology and Uro-Gynaecology Grant as Dr Marianne Gamper for a project to be undertaken jointly in Austria and Switzerland to quantify marker levels to identify the potential relationship between Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OAB) and Bladder Pain Syndrome / Interstitial Cystitis. The successful project team represents three different centres: Kantonsspital Frauenfeld and ETH Zürich (Switzerland) and Medizinische Universität Graz (Austria).
At an event announcing the winner in Stockholm, Sweden, last night the Astellas European Foundation emphasised their continued and long term commitment to research and development. Dr Ayad Abdulahad, Astellas European Foundation Trustee and Head of Medical Affairs and Health Economics for Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. commented, "We received 35 entries from across Europe. The Foundation would like to thank all of those who submitted research proposals. The standard of entries was very high, and covered a broad range of topics in functional urology and also those in uro-gynaecology. The project led by Dr Gamper and the research team has the potential to verify a hypothesis that could lead to improved early diagnosis and more targeted treatment for OAB and bladder pain syndrome / interstitial cystitis patients."
Dr Marianne Gamper, Kantonsspital Frauenfeld, said "We want to identify, quantify, and compare molecular marker levels in patient samples and associate the results with the severity of clinical findings. The prize money directly provides the essential financial support for our laboratory work, thereby enabling us to continue our fundamental and important research on debilitating chronic bladder diseases."
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 Urology Grant supports basic medical and related scientific programmes which contribute to advancements in urology. 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 Functional Urology and Uro-Gynaecology, Uro-Oncology 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.
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