Bayer HealthCare Provides $2.5 Million Funding to Advance Global Hemophilia Research and Patient Care

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare announced today that it awarded more than $2.5 million in funding to 19 recipients from 10 countries through its Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP). BHAP is the largest awards program of its kind in hemophilia, providing funds that support clinical and basic research, encourage new physicians to enter the field and enable continuing education for caregivers around the world. This year's recipients were selected by a global committee of renowned hemophilia clinicians, researchers and caregivers, and were honored last evening during the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2010 World Congress in Buenos Aires.

Since its founding in 2002, BHAP has awarded 175 grants, totaling more than $20 million, to researchers and caregivers from 28 countries, including India, China, Taiwan, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Ireland, U.S. and Canada. This support has resulted in more than 227 scientific abstracts and publications by awardees. This year's awards will support a variety of initiatives, ranging from novel approaches to combat inhibitor development – the most important safety concern for hemophilia patients(1) – to programs that improve treatment and expand healthcare training in developing countries.

"The goal of BHAP is to support talent that can harness and translate advancement to potentially improve health. Now in its eighth year, the Hemophilia Awards Program is part of an integrated academic-industry approach to boost understanding and awareness of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders," said David Lillicrap, M.D., chairman of the BHAP Grants, Review and Awards Committee and professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. "On behalf of the review committee, we congratulate this year's recipients for their efforts, passion and talent and look forward to these projects positively impacting the global hemophilia community."

"Bayer is a global sponsor of WFH. BHAP is part of a holistic approach aimed at cultivating potentially breakthrough research and novel therapies, while helping to train and develop the next generation of hemophilia care and treatment professionals," said John E. Murphy, Ph.D., Director, Molecular Biology, Biologics Research, Bayer HealthCare. "Our investments further demonstrate Bayer's comprehensive, global commitment to support research and patient care efforts."

Following are the 2010 award recipients for each of the BHAP categories:

Special Project Awards: Provide support for a wide range of scientific research in the field of hemophilia.

Early Career Investigator Awards: Provide salary support and research funds for junior faculty members to undertake mentored basic and/or clinical research projects in the bleeding disorders field.

Clinical Training Awards: Facilitate the development of specific clinical expertise for applicants who have completed medical training and have an interest in pursuing a career as a hemophilia clinician.

• Natalia Rydz (Canada), Queens University
• Yoann Chevalier (France), Centre Regional de Traitement de l'Hemophilie
• Veerle Labarque (Belgium), Hemophilia Center UZ Leuven
• Dawn Goodyear (Canada), University of Calgary
• Xue Feng (China), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College

Caregiver Awards: Recognize the essential role of caregivers and allied health professionals in the care of patients with hemophilia. The awards are designed to support this role by promoting continuing education.

About the Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program

The Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP) supports basic and clinical research and education in hemophilia. Through grants provided to early career investigators, fellows in training and other hemophilia care professionals, the program seeks to support the next generation of care and treatment options for people with hemophilia worldwide. Parties who wish to apply for the 2011 Bayer Hemophilia Awards should submit a letter of intent by November 30, 2010 to be considered. For complete information on the Program, award categories and submission process, visit the Web site at bayer-hemophilia-awards.com.

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals operation of Bayer HealthCare, an affiliate of Bayer AG. One of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. In the United States, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, Hematology/Neurology, and Oncology. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

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(1) Skinner MW. Treatment for all: a vision for the future. Haemophilia. 2006;12(suppl 3):169-173

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare