Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Announces Recipients of Third Annual EUR 1 Million 'Grant for Oncology Innovation' Award

PR66086

DARMSTADT, Germany, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

      Not intended for UK-based media

    - Grant established by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, recognizes

pioneering research in personalized treatment of solid tumors

    - Winners selected by internationally renowned oncologists from 405

applications representing 49 countries

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company,

today announced the recipients of the 2016 Grant for Oncology Innovation (GOI),

who will share a EUR1 million grant to progress their respective research

initiatives. The winners were formally awarded yesterday evening at an award

presentation coinciding with the 2016 annual European Society for Medical

Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161006/415895 )

    The three winning proposals, which focus on breast cancer, colorectal

cancer and lung cancer, were selected from a total of 405 applications

representing 49 countries, following a comprehensive review by an expert

scientific steering committee made up of internationally renowned oncologists.

    The 2016 GOI winners are:

    - Alberto Bardelli, University of Torino, Italy, for his proposal:

'Heterogeneity and clonal evolution as a therapeutic opportunity for colorectal

cancers'

    - Enriqueta Felip, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Spain, for her

proposal: 'New technologies for new treatments: liquid biopsy meets

immunotherapy'

    - Dr Dongxu Liu, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, for his

proposal: 'How does SHON* expression in tumors determine the efficacy of

endocrine therapy in breast cancer?'

    "The Grant for Oncology Innovation is an example of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,

Germany's commitment to scientific innovation in oncology. We are proud to

support pioneering work that pushes the boundaries of creativity and science in

order to deliver transformative innovation with a potential to improve the

lives of cancer patients in the near-term future," said Dr Steven Hildemann,

Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medical and Safety at Merck

KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's Biopharma business. "We are honored to recognize

these talented and inspiring researchers and to play a role in enabling these

innovative projects to become a reality."

    These awards mark the third successful year for GOI. Every year, Merck

KGaA, Darmstadt,  Germany, offers grants totaling EUR1 million through the GOI

program.

    More information about the GOI can be found online at:

http://www2.grantforoncologyinnovation.org/EMDSerono/index.html

    *Secreted hominoid-specific oncogene (SHON), an estrogen-regulated gene.

    For further information and press materials please visit:

http://www.emdgroup.com/emd/media/media_center_oncology.html

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    About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company

in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees

work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from

biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge

systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for

smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany,

generated sales of EUR 12.85 billion in 66 countries.

    Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest

pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority

owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany,

holds the global rights to the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, name and brand.

The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company

operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

    Contact: Heike Schmiedt, +49-6151-72-7498

   (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160629/384917LOGO )

SOURCE: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany