Dr. Kathryn Tinckam Named as Recipient of Inaugural Astellas and Canadian Society of Transplantation Clinical Research Grant

MARKHAM, ON, Oct. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. (Astellas) and the Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST) announced today the 2016 recipient of a $100,000 Grant from the first Astellas CST Clinical Research Grant Program:

Dr. Kathryn Tinckam
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Project Title: CAN DSA 1000: The Canadian 1000 DSA Project

Dr. Tinckam's submission, with co-investigators Drs. Peter Nickerson, Patricia Campbell and Michael Mengel, proposes a first-in-kind pan-Canadian HLA antibody registry to better understand the nature of HLA antibody development and its role in transplant injury. When antibodies form, antibody-mediated rejection can occur and be a devastating event often resulting in the loss of the donated organ. The registry will capture antibody, function and pathology information from different types of transplants, and will be available to the Canadian transplant community to advance the understanding of antibody development and better characterize the features of antibody that are most deleterious.

Dr. Tinckam is a Transplant Nephrologist and HLA Laboratory Director who is recognized for her expertise in HLA antibody analysis and national standardization, as well as for her research studying the impact of humoral alloimmunity on allograft outcomes in all organs. She is a Medical Advisor in Transplantation to Canadian Blood Services with responsibilities including the implementation of the Canadian Transplant Registry, a comprehensive operational database that will form the basis of post- transplant data collection in Canada.

Building on the success of the 2016 program, Astellas and the CST are pleased to also announce the launch of the 2017 Astellas CST Clinical Research Grant Program. This is in keeping with the previously announced two-year $200,000 commitment from Astellas in support of this program. The shared objective is to continue to support peer-reviewed research that addresses barriers in the field of transplantation, primarily focusing on clinical research in solid organ transplantation. Ultimately, the goal of Astellas and the CST in this collaboration is to advance long-term health outcomes and the quality of life for Canadian transplant patients.   

"Astellas Pharma Canada has been a major partner and substantial supporter of the transplant research community, and we are pleased to announce the 2017 CST Astellas Clinical Research Grant Competition will be launched this fall," said Dr. Atul Humar, president of the CST. "These types of funding opportunities provide our research community with important financial support that will move us forward in evolving our clinical practices and improving outcomes for our patients."

"Astellas is proud to renew our commitment to this collaboration with the Canadian Society of Transplantation," said Fran Paradiso-Hardy, senior director, Medical Affairs at Astellas Pharma Canada. "We are pleased to continue to support high quality innovative clinical research in transplantation through this program, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for transplant patients across Canada."

The application deadline for the Astellas CST Clinical Research Grant Program is January 31, 2017.  For more information about the application process and eligibility criteria, please visit www.cst-transplant.ca.

About the Canadian Society of Transplantation
The Canadian Society of Transplantation is the professional organization for physicians, surgeons, scientists and allied health professionals working in the field of transplantation. Its mission is to advance the practice and science of transplantation for the benefit of Canadians and society by leading, advancing, and advocating for patient care, research, and education in donation and transplantation in Canada. More information about the CST can found at www.cst-transplant.ca.

About Astellas Pharma Inc.
Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. We focus on Urology, Oncology, Immunology, Nephrology and Neuroscience as prioritized therapeutic areas while advancing new therapeutic areas and discovery research leveraging new technologies/modalities. We are also creating new value by combining internal capabilities and external expertise in the medical/healthcare business. Astellas is on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.
For more information, please visit our website at www.astellas.com/en.

About Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.
Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., headquartered in Markham, ON, is a Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. In Canada, Astellas has an intense commercial focus on four therapeutic areas – Urology, Immunology, Infectious Disease and Oncology. For more information about Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., please visit the corporate website:  www.astellas.ca

SOURCE Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

Rob Gallaher, Canadian Society of Transplantation, 1 [phone], [email protected]; Michelle Reale, Corporate Communications, Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., [phone], [email protected]