Two University of British Columbia PhD students have been selected to be among the first-ever recipients of the prestigious Prostate Cancer Canada Graduate Studentship awards. Natives of British Columbia Peter Axerio-Cilies and Philip Edgcumbe will split a total of $80,000 for two research projects with the potential to transform treatment and recovery for prostate cancer survivors.
Peter Axerio-Cilies
The Steve Winter Graduate Studentship Award was presented to Peter Axerio-Cilies. Mr. Axerio-Cilies’ research is working to overcome the treatment challenges prostate cancer patients face when receiving drugs to target the male hormone androgen receptor. While effective early in treatment, this treatment strategy becomes less successful over time. The award will fund experiments designed to help overcome this issue by designing new drugs that will destroy the androgen receptor and hopefully lead to other new treatments for prostate cancer patients.
Philip Edgcumbe
Philip Edgcumbe is the recipient of the Amy and Donald McInnes Graduate Studentship Award. Patients with prostate cancer are often required to have surgery. To help reduce post-operative complications, Mr. Edgcumbe’s research proposes to develop an Augmented Reality Elastography Navigation Aid, called ARENA. ARENA will provide surgeons with a real-time and accurate ultrasound display of blood vessels, nerves and tumours beneath the surface during surgery.
"Following a rigorous selection process, we are funding a total of five top prospects who are looking to develop their careers in prostate cancer research, and this $200,000 investment in these promising PhD students really is a game changer," says Dr. Stuart Edmonds, VP of Research, Health Promotion and Survivorship at Prostate Cancer Canada. "Awards like this help nurture research talent and build the next generation of prostate cancer research leaders."
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men, impacting one in seven men over the course of their lifetime. Prostate Cancer Canada funds critical programs related to awareness and public education, advocacy, support of those affected, and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.
This article is exerpted from the press release issued by Prostate Cancer Canada, January 8, 2014.