The following awards were presented at this year’s SAKK semi-annual meeting at the 4th Swiss Oncology & Hematology Congress (SOHC), which took place from November 18 to 20, 2021.

SAKK/Amgen Research Grant 2021

has been awarded to Prof. Dr. med. et rer nat. Markus Joerger at Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen for the research project entitled «SAKK 96/12 Substudy Bone Turnover Markers in patients Receiving 4-Weekly versus 12-Weekly Denosumab in the SAKK 96/12 Randomized-Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial. A Prospective Kinetic-Pharmacodynamic (K-PD) Population Modeling». The award is endowed with CHF 50’000.- and encourages the continuation of research activities.

SAKK/Astellas GU-Oncology Award 2021

has been awarded to Dr. med. Clémentine Le Magnen at University Hospital Basel for the research project entitled “A comprehensive study of prostate cancer patient-derived organoids“. 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.

SAKK/BMS Grant «HEM Pioneer» 2021

has been awarded to Dr. med. Noémie Lang at Geneva University Hospitals, HUG, for the research project entitled “Swiss PTLD”: Liquid biopsy-based genomic assay to enable non-invasive precision diagnostics and monitoring of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD)“.
The focus of the SAKK / BMS Grant "HEM Pioneer" aims to support projects and research that could potentially pave the way for a game changing outcome in the field of blood cancers. The award is endowed with CHF 50’000.- and encourages the continuation of research activities.

SAKK/Dr. Paul Janssen Fellowship

has been awarded to Dr. med. Franziska Siegenthaler at University Cancer Center UCI Bern. The educational grant of CHF 30’000.– offers young doctors 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.

SAKK/Novartis: Together for Patients Award 2021

has been awarded to Dr. med. Wiebke Rösler at University Hospital Zurich for the research project entitled “The SWISS HISTIOCYTOSIS REGISTRY – a comprehensive platform for health care research, translational research and patient support“. The award is endowed with CHF 30’000.- and encourages the continuation of patient-focused research activities.

SAKK/Pfizer Award 2021

has been awarded to Dr. med. Florentia Dimitriou for the research project entitled “Anti-PD-1 alone or combined with ipilimumab in patients with mucosal melanoma: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study“ The SAKK / Pfizer Award focus on patient-oriented, practical clinical cancer research. The award is endowed with CHF 20’000.- and honors patient-oriented, practice-relevant research in clinical oncology.