The following awards were presented at this year’s SAKK semi-annual meeting at the 3nd Swiss Oncology & Hematology Congress (SOHC), taking place as a virtual congress 18 to 21 November 2020:

SAKK/Astellas GU-Oncology Award

The SAKK/Astellas GU-Oncology Award 2020 has been awarded to Dr. Anke Augspach at University of Bern for the research project entitled “Role of specialized composition of SWI/SNF complexes in prostate cancer lineage plasticity“. 
The focus of the SAKK/Astellas GU-Oncology Award lies on potential tangible improvements for patient management and outcomes in the treatment of genitourinary cancers. The award is endowed with CHF 30’000.- and should encourage the continuation of research activities, hence the awarded sum is to be used for ongoing and future research within the respective research group or project.

Dr. Anke Augspach (University of Bern)

SAKK/Novartis: Together for Patients Award

SAKK/Novartis: Together for Patients Award 2020 has been awarded to Dr. med. Ricardo Pereira Mestre at Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana (IOSI) for the research project entitled “A pilot project for the introduction of continuous monitoring of vital signs for the health assessment and early detection of clinical deterioration of SARS-CoV-2 infected hematological and oncological patients“.
The award is endowed with CHF 30’000.- and encourages the continuation of patient-focused research activities.

Massimiliano Zanon, Dr. med. Ricardo Pereira Mestre, Prof. Dr. med. Silke Gillessen Sommer, Dr. med. Luciano Wannesson (Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana IOSI) 

SAKK & Celgene’s «HEM Pioneer» Grant

The SAKK/Celgene Grant 2020 for pioneering ideas to fight blood cancer has been awarded to Dr. med. Mattia Rizzi at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV for the project entitled "Prediction of thrombo-hemorragic complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma: the role of novel global hemostasis assays".
SAKK’s HEM Pioneer Grant is funded by Celgene and aims to support projects and research that could potentially pave the way for a game changing outcome in the field of blood cancers. The grant is endowed with CHF 50,000.  

Dr. med. Mattia Rizzi (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV) 

SAKK/Dr. Paul Janssen Fellowship

The SAKK / Dr. Paul Janssen Fellowship 2020 has been awarded to Dr. med. Andreas Schmitt at University Hospital Basel. 
The educational grant of CHF 30’000.– offers the opportunity to gain experience at a renowned oncology research center abroad and to acquire the necessary know-how and tools to develop and conduct top-quality clinical trials.

Dr. med. Andreas Schmitt will spend up to four months at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, United Kingdom, where he can develop his knowledge of clinical cancer research and acquire the tools he needs to conduct trials successfully.

Dr. med. Andreas Schmitt (University Hospital Basel)