CROF, sanofi-aventis announce the creation of CASARIA for cancer research

The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation and sanofi-aventis are pleased to announce the creation of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation/Sanofi-Aventis Research Innovation Award (CASARIA).

This award will make available $140,000 in grants for research focusing on colorectal or prostate cancer. Proposals will be reviewed and recommended for funding on the basis of scientific merit, feasibility and relevance to Canadian radiation oncology.

"By promoting innovative research into new anticancer medicines and targeted radiation therapy, this award will offer considerable long-term benefits to patients with rectal and prostate cancers," said Matthew B. Parliament, MD, FRCPC, and President of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO). "We want to express our thanks to sanofi-aventis for encouraging the studies that aim to improve prospects for cure and quality of life for the thousands of patients diagnosed with these cancers every year."

Said Hugh O'Neill, President and CEO of sanofi-aventis: "True innovation that meets unmet medical needs is what we value and want to encourage on behalf of all Canadians. Sanofi-aventis is proud to support this important initiative that will help make such innovations a reality."

"This is our foundation's very first research grant," said Ida Ackerman, President of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation. "We welcome the opportunity it affords us to further our knowledge and technological capability in our field, which holds so much promise for patients."

The CASARIA competition is open to both clinical and non-clinical projects. Applications should be submitted online, using the CASARIA document template (link), to the CROF head office by April 12, 2010. Successful proposals will be announced in May 2010.

Source: SANOFI-AVENTIS

Source: CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY (CARO)

Source: CANADIAN RADIATION ONCOLOGY FOUNDATION (CROF)