OTTAWA, Feb. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation and sanofi-aventis are pleased to announce the creation of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation/Sanofi-Aventis Research Innovation Award (CASARIA).

This award will make available $140,000 in grants for research focusing on colorectal or prostate cancer. Proposals will be reviewed and recommended for funding on the basis of scientific merit, feasibility and relevance to Canadian radiation oncology.

"By promoting innovative research into new anticancer medicines and targeted radiation therapy, this award will offer considerable long-term benefits to patients with rectal and prostate cancers," said Matthew B. Parliament, MD, FRCPC, and President of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO). "We want to express our thanks to sanofi-aventis for encouraging the studies that aim to improve prospects for cure and quality of life for the thousands of patients diagnosed with these cancers every year."

Said Hugh O'Neill, President and CEO of sanofi-aventis: "True innovation that meets unmet medical needs is what we value and want to encourage on behalf of all Canadians. Sanofi-aventis is proud to support this important initiative that will help make such innovations a reality."

"This is our foundation's very first research grant," said Ida Ackerman, President of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation. "We welcome the opportunity it affords us to further our knowledge and technological capability in our field, which holds so much promise for patients."

The CASARIA competition is open to both clinical and non-clinical projects. Applications should be submitted online, using the CASARIA document template (link), to the CROF head office by April 12, 2010. Successful proposals will be announced in May 2010.

About the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO)

The Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO) is the official voice of radiation oncology in Canada. CARO interacts with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, provincial cancer agencies, government health bodies and other national organizations on issues affecting services for the control of cancer in matters related to radiation oncology. CARO conjointly accredits training programs for radiation oncology-related health care professionals. For more information about CARO, please visit www.caro-acro.ca.

About The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation (CROF)

The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization, working with the public and the oncology community through a broad educational program to enhance public awareness of the crucial role radiation oncology in national cancer care. Through its support for professional education and scientific research in radiation medicine, CROF aims to provide Canadians with the highest standard of radiation treatment, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden and suffering of all Canadians diagnosed with cancer.

http://www.caro-acro.ca/Links/CROF.htm

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone.

Sanofi-aventis is represented in Canada by the pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., based in Laval, Quebec, and by the vaccines company Sanofi Pasteur Limited, based in Toronto, Ontario. Together they employ more than 2,000 people across the country. With combined R&D investments of $211.5 million in 2008, they are leaders in Canada's biopharmaceutical sector, a critical knowledge-based industry that generates jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.