Novartis Oncology has announced the winners of its 2011 Promising Renal Investigators Meeting (PRIMe) Awards following a two day meeting held in London.

The awards, in their second year, see researchers from the UK and France presenting their research projects to a panel of eminent experts and are designed to showcase and reward the efforts of emerging investigators and research teams helping to advance science in the fight against kidney cancer.

Dr Chiara Margiotta, based between the School of Cancer Science of the University of Birmingham and the Cancer Centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, was recognised by the jury of highly respected international experts for her research programme, and will receive a €10,000 grant to support its completion.

Dr Margiotta is conducting a translational research initiative in which blood and tissue samples from patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are subjected to phosphoproteomic profiling, in order to assess the mechanisms of the TKIs efficacy and toxicity and potentially identify new clinical targets.

TKIs are drugs that interfere with cell communication and growth and may prevent tumour growth. Commenting on her work and the win Dr Margiotta said, “I’m truly honoured to have won this award which will allow for continued laboratory work to further our understanding of TKI mechanisms and targets, offering further hope for the future treatment of this disease”.

Professor Tim Eisen, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Cambridge and part of the judging panel added, "The innovation, vision, and commitment displayed by this year's entrants and prize winners is very encouraging and promises to drive continued excellence in this field. I know that I speak on behalf of my peers when I say that we have a lot to look forward to from these talented professionals.”

Dr Elodie Coquan of the Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, Caen was the French prize winner and was recognised for an innovative pilot study to correlate pharmacokinetic parameters and safety and efficacy endpoints of everolimus in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

“Novartis Oncology is proud to reward hard working researchers who demonstrate innovative ways to reduce the burden of kidney cancer for patients, their carers and physicians. The PRIMe awards continue to grow in reputation and bring well-deserved recognition to meaningful programmes which are advancing our knowledge about kidney cancer,” commented Ibrahim ElHoussieny UK Medical Director, Novartis Oncology.

Source: Novartis