Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Announces Recipients of Third Annual €1 Million ‘Grant for Oncology Innovation’ Award

• 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 €1 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 of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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 €1 million through the GOI program.

More information about the GOI can be found online at: http://www2.grantforoncologyinnovation.org/EMDSerono

*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