PhRMA Honors Research & Hope Award Recipients

Imagine a world without cancer.

Earlier this week, a group of trailblazers in the oncology community gathered to reflect on efforts to help make this dream a reality.

PhRMA was pleased to host the 2015 Research & Hope Awards on Sept. 9 to recognize groundbreaking researchers and patient advocates for their work in the fight against cancer, which despite advances in recent decades, still claims the lives of more than seven million people worldwide every year.

Along with 26 patient and community health organizations, PhRMA honored the 2015 winners during a dinner in Washington, D.C., which featured a keynote address by NBC News correspondent Tom Brokaw. Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in 2013.

“This year’s winners are cancer-fighting pioneers both professionally and in their communities,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman, PhRMA Board of Directors and chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “These honorees turned inspiration into action, helping to revolutionize cancer research and care.”

The recipients of the five awards were:

The Research and Hope Award for Academic Research:

• Silvio Gutkind, Ph.D., professor, Department of Pharmacology; associate director, Basic Science, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego , recognized for advances in the treatment of numerous types of cancer

The Research and Hope Award for Biopharmaceutical Industry Research:

• Merck Team for KEYTRUDA®, recognized for success in bringing this treatment option to patients with advanced melanoma and efforts to extend its use to other cancer types

The PhRMA Research & Hope Award for Excellence in Advocacy & Activism:

• Victoria Reggie Kennedy, president of the Board and co-founder, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate; senior counsel, Greenberg Traurig LLP, recognized for her work as an advocate for cancer patients and their families

The PhRMA Research & Hope Award for Community Champion

• Rick Dunetz, founder and executive director, The Side-Out Foundation, awarded for his efforts on behalf of the breast cancer patient community

The PhRMA Research & Hope Award for Visibility & Progress Award

• Liz and Jay Scott, co-executive directors, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation , honored for efforts to raise awareness and research funding for childhood cancers

When we discuss cancer today, the hard work of these women and men and others enables us to have hope and say: there is treatment. Every year, we can new knowledge about this disease’s many types. New tools are created, new medicines developed and new treatments emerge.

We all seek – and imagine – an end to cancer. And every year, we come a little bit closer.

For more information on the 2015 Research & Hope Awards, including awardee biographies and videos, visit http://www.phrma.org/research-hope-awards and http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7350555-phrma-2015-research-hope-awards/

Resources available for download:

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http://phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/oncology-report-2015.pdf

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http://phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2015_cancer_drug_list.pdf