Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is pleased to announce two 

 *(YIA), to support the development of outstanding early-career research scientists and clinical cancer research investigators who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the understanding and treatment of bladder cancer and/or upper tract urothelial cancer research.

For the third year, BCAN is also designating an additional YIA for

.  To compete for this award, investigators must be working in a research environment capable of supporting transformational 

patient-oriented clinical bladder cancer research

 (e.g. studies of access to care, quality of care, quality of life, health disparities, and patient-centered outcomes research).

“Since our founding 2005, BCAN has believed in supporting early career investigators on their path to becoming leaders in bladder cancer research. Our YIA and Patient-Centered Clinical Research YIA are critical to strengthening the community of experts working on this disease,” notes Andrea Maddox-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of BCAN. “Now in our 15th year, we are grateful for the support of our donor community that enables us to renew our commitment to this important aspect of BCAN’s mission to support the science that makes a difference in the lives of patients and their families.”

These awards provide $50,000 to support one year of research. Interested applicants must submit a Research Proposal by 5:00 PM (EST) on Monday, February 24, 2020. Please view the full 2020 award guidelines for eligibility, and application requirements available through the links below:

2020 Patient-Centered Clinical Research Young Investigator Award

*To submit, the applicant must be within six years following completion of a professional degree such as MD, PhD, MD-PhD, MPH, or equivalent or clinical training such as residency or fellowship.

Articles

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is pleased to announce two 2020 Young Investigator Awards (YIA), to support the development of outstanding early-career research scientists and clinical cancer research investigators.

Announcing BCAN 2020 Young Investigator Awards

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) announced that they have achieved another major milestone and are marking their 15th anniversary in 2020, representing 15 years of progress against bladder cancer.  Founded in 2005, BCAN is the only national advocacy organization devoted to advancing bladder cancer research and supporting those impacted by the disease.

“We have achieved this milestone through the support and dedication of our courageous patients, caregivers, volunteers, doctors, researchers, partners, patient advocates as well as BCAN employees,” said Andrea Maddox-Smith, CEO of BCAN.

Since 2005 when the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network was founded, an estimated 1,200,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and more than 250,000 have lost their lives to this disease.  Bladder cancer is the sixth-most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US, yet ranks #24 for federal research funding.

There have been many exciting milestones during those 15 years. BCAN’s first-ever Think Tank scientific meeting was held in Colorado in 2006. The first edition of Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly

Diagnosed was published in 2008, and in 2010, BCAN awarded its first-ever research grant. The Bladder Cancer Genomics Consortium, whose goal is to develop an enriched understanding of the genomic profile of bladder cancer and secure more effective treatments, began in 2015.

Today, BCAN’s Think Tank is the premier bladder cancer scientific meeting in North America. To date, the organization has published more than 250,000 copies of Bladder Cancer Basics, and has also provided grants for nearly $5 million in bladder cancer research.

“The changes that have happened in bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and advocacy over the last 15 years are significant,” said Maddox-Smith, “Bladder cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the U.S. yet one of the least understood.  There is so much more work to do to achieve our vision of a world without bladder cancer.”

Videos

At 15 years old the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network looks back and takes a look ahead.

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Turns 15

Today, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) announced the recipient of its prestigious Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award.  This year’s awardee is Philip Beachy, Ph.D., Professor of Urology at Stanford University. His research project will address the need for better treatments for recurrent bladder cancer CIS (carcinoma in-situ) and intermediate and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

BCAN’s Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award, funded at $300,000 for two years, supports exceptionally novel and creative projects with great potential to produce breakthroughs in the management of bladder cancer. 

“It is gratifying to provide funding for innovative bladder cancer research projects such as Dr. Beachy’s. This award supports research that is high-risk and has the potential for high-reward in new discoveries,” said Andrea Maddox Smith, CEO of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.  “These critical projects are not likely to be funded elsewhere.  We are proud to continue to encourage innovation in the bladder cancer research community.”

Dr. Beachy’s project is titled “Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to urothelial progenitors for definitive urothelial replacement therapy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.”  Dr. Beachy’s approach involves replacing the diseased urothelium with healthy bladder urothelial progenitor cells.  In addition to generating these bladder urothelial progenitors, he will also focus on developing methods for transplanting these cells into bladders afflicted with NMIBC using a carcinogen-based bladder cancer mouse model.  Dr. Beachy intends to develop a diagnostic tool based on single-cell RNA sequencing of human patient samples to identify candidates for this potential therapy. 

Dr. Beachy is an Ernest and Amelia Gallo Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California and an Associate at Stanford's Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. 

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network’s (BCAN’s) mission is to increase public awareness about bladder cancer, advance bladder cancer research and, provide educational and support services for the bladder cancer community.

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network announced the recipient of its prestigious Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award. 

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

Announcing BCAN 2020 Young Investigator Awards

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Turns 15

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Announces 2019 Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Awardee

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