Merck ‘Grant for Oncology Innovation’ Awards Recognize Recipients for Pushing Boundaries in Oncology Research

PR69988

DARMSTADT, Germany, Sept. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

     Not intended for UK/U.S. based media

    - EUR1 million grant funded by Merck supports research with the potential

to advance implementation of personalized treatment for solid tumors

     - Three winners selected from 100 scientifically diverse applicants

worldwide

    Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced recipients

of the fourth annual Grant for Oncology Innovation (GOI) awards. The three

winners of this prestigious program were awarded EUR1 million in total to

progress their research. The winners were announced at a formal award ceremony

earlier today to coincide with the 2017 annual European Society for Medical

Oncology (ESMO 2017) Congress in Madrid, Spain.

    Recipients of the 2017 GOI award are:

    - Renata Maria Grifantini, National Institute of Molecular Genetics, Milan,

Italy, for her proposal: "Novel targets of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ regulatory

T-cells for immunotherapy"

     - Alena Gros Vidal, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron

Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, for her proposal: "Personalized non-invasive T-cell

therapies targeting the mutanome"

     - Anguraj Sadanandam and Naureen Starling, Institute of Cancer Research,

London and Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK, for their proposal:

"Characterizing the evolution of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and its

immune microenvironment for therapeutic vulnerability"

    Chosen from a total of 100 applicants worldwide, and judged by a fully

independent scientific steering committee of internationally renowned oncology

experts, the winning proposals were selected based on relevance to patient

care, innovative approach, scientific impact, feasibility and relevance for the

personalization of treatment.

    "Merck is deeply committed to innovating cancer care. The Grant for

Oncology Innovation program enables us to recognize and assist talented and

inspiring researchers in advancing creativity and innovation in oncology

research, where unmet medical need remains enormous, and patients desperately

need advances in their hope for a cure," said Steven Hildemann, Chief Medical

Officer and Head of Global Patient Safety, Merck Biopharma. "Each year we are

continually impressed with the exceptional quality of scientific proposals and

the caliber of applicants for this program. We congratulate this year's

winners, and all applicants, for their dedication to continually push the

boundaries of cancer research."

    Research results from several past award recipients were also presented at

the ceremony, where the achievements and benefits that the program has already

generated were celebrated.

    Merck is committed to rewarding innovation and new thinking that could

further advance the field of medicine. Since 2014, the company has awarded a

total of EUR4 million to further research in oncology through the Grant for

Oncology Innovation award. More information about the program can be found

online at: http://www.grantforoncologyinnovation.org

    All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they

become available on the Merck Website. Please go to

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    About Merck

    Merck 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 2016, Merck generated sales of EUR 15.0 billion in 66 countries.

    Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical

company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed

corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The

only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as

EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Martina Brunner +49-6151-72-43959

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Source:  Merck KGaA