AUA Foundation Announces Renewal of the Astellas Rising Stars in Urology Award Program

LINTHICUM, Md., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) Foundation is pleased to announce that Astellas U.S. has awarded a $1.2 million independent educational grant to continue its long tradition of supporting outstanding young academic urologists through the AUA Foundation/Astellas Rising Stars in Urology Award program.   

"The AUA Foundation/Astellas Rising Stars Awards provide young investigators with financial support to continue exploring scientific possibilities that may one day lead to important innovations in urology," said Stan Bukofzer, MD, Vice-President, Astellas Scientific and Medical Affairs. "We're proud to encourage clinician researchers whose work could potentially benefit many patients on a global level.  The Astellas Rising Stars Award represents Astellas' established and continued commitment to improving treatment for patients with urologic conditions."

The AUA Foundation/Astellas Rising Stars in Urology Award program will award funding to two promising young  researchers each year in 2011, 2012 and 2013.  Each award provides up to five years of funding, on an escalating basis. The goal of this award is to encourage and support the careers of young urologists who have demonstrated significant potential to be the future leaders of urology. 

The recipients of the 2011 AUA Foundation/Astellas Rising Stars awards are:

David Miller, M.D. from the University of Michigan.  Dr. Miller's project, "Physician Organization and the Efficiency of Surgical Specialty Care," is being conducted under the mentorship of John Birkmeyer, M.D. of the University of Michigan and Jonathan Skinner, Ph.D. at Dartmouth College.  This project is highly aligned with the AUA Foundation National Urology Research Agenda (NURA) emphasis on comparative effectiveness research, and is aimed at evaluating the quality and cost of care among patients undergoing prostatectomy.   

Benjamin Canales, M.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Canales will be mentored by Saheed Khan, Ph.D., Marguerite Hatch, Ph.D., and George Sarosi, M.D., all of the University of Florida. His research project is titled, "The Effect of Gastric Bypass Surgery on Renal Function and Metabolism."  The goal of this study is to define and understand how obesity is related to the development of kidney stones, kidney injury and kidney failure in obese patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery. 

To be considered for the Rising Star award, young urologists must be board-certified or board eligible urologists, or currently participating in a training program to obtain certification in urology.  Additionally, candidates must have successfully competed for prestigious career development awards offered through various government agencies, foundations, and organizations.

All proposals received were independently peer-reviewed on a competitive basis by a panel of experts in urology. 

Contact Wendy Waldsachs Isett at 410-689-3789 for more information on the AUA Foundation/Astellas Rising Stars in Urology Award program or to schedule an interview with Leo Giambarresi, Ph.D., AUA Foundation Director of Research.

About the AUA Foundation: The AUA Foundation is the world's leading non-profit urological health foundation and the Official Foundation of the American Urological Association. Our mission is to promote health, provide hope and promise a future free of urologic disease, including cancer.
 
As the official foundation of the AUA, the professional organization of more than 17,000 urologists, the AUA Foundation is the trusted public source for the most accurate and current information relating to urological health.

Astellas U.S., located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a member of the Astellas group of companies. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. For more information about Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit the website at www.astellas.com/en/.

Contact: Jenny Kite, Astellas, 847-317-5405
Wendy Waldsachs, AUA, 410-689-3789

SOURCE American Urological Association Foundation