"The 8th Organon Urology Science Award" and "The 8th Organon Urology Award"

Nippon Organon K.K., Osaka, Japan, March 17, 2008 - The Organon Urology Academia (OUA) announced five winners of the "Organon Urology Science Award.” Presentation of the awards took place during a special reception on Friday, March 7, 2008, at the OUA Scientific Seminar in Osaka. The OUA was sponsored by Nippon Organon K.K., a part of Schering-Plough Corporation, with the aim of giving encouragement and support in the field of urology in Japan. 

The “Organon Urology Science Award” was designed to honor young urologists taking part in clinical or basic research in urological diseases, especially on benign prostatic hypertrophy and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). All entries were selected and judged by the OUA Advisory Board committee on their uniqueness, scientific relevance, significance of great promise, and adequacy of planning. The award is given annually in four categories.

This year’s recipients are:

Category 1: Benign prostatic hypertrophy, LUTS (including Neurourology)

• Basic Research: Dr. Koichi Masunaga, Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 
• Clinical Research: Dr. Teruhiko Yokoyama, lecturer, Department of Urology, Kawasaki Medical University, Okayama 

Category 2: Prostatic Cancer

• Dr. Takefumi Sato, lecturer, Department of Urology,  Kitasato University School of Medicine, Tokyo 

Category 3: Andrology

• Dr. Kentaro Mizuno, Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya

Category 4: Dysfunction of kidneys/ renal transplant/ infection/ kidney tumor/ testicular tumor, and other urological theme

• Dr. Hideki Enokida, lecturer, Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima

All awarded research materials will be published in Japanese journals in May - June 2008.

During the OUA Scientific Seminar, “The 8th Organon Urology Award” presentation ceremony was also held. The recipients were selected in July 2007 from the theses on clinical or basic studies of benign prostatic hypertrophy or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) published in the previous year. The criteria for selection were based on their uniqueness, scientific relevance, and significance of great promise.  

The recipients are:
• Dr. Satoru Takahashi, associate professor, Department of Urology, Tokyo University, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine (Present title: Professor & Chairman, Department of Urology, Nihon University, School of Medicine)
“Periurethral injection of sustained release basic fibroblast growth factor improves sphincteric contractility of the rat urethra denervated by botulinum-A toxin”
[Journal of Urology 176: 819-823, 2006]

•Dr. Yoshiyuki Kojima, lecturer, Department of Nephro-Urology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences
“Quantification of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes by real-time RT-PCR and correlation with age and prostate volume in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients”
[Prostate 66: 761-767, 2006]

•Dr. Takeya Kitta, Department of Urology, Nuclear Medicine and Neurology, Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Medicine “Brain activation during detrusor overactivity in patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A positron emission tomography study”.[Journal of Urology 175: 994-998, 2006] 

The keynote presentation, given by Dr. Yasutomo Nasu, associate professor of Okayama University, was, “Study on the Gene Therapy for Prostatic Cancer as a Translational Research.” Dr. Nasu is the pioneer and leader of gene therapy for prostatic cancer in Japan. 

OUA Advisory Board Committee

The OUA Advisory Board consists of 16 eminent medical doctors and professors of universities throughout Japan. The awards and subsidies selected by the OUA Advisory Board have been recognized as prestigious prizes and are considered to be a gateway to success for promising Japanese urologists. Nippon Organon K.K. does not participate in research and views presented by the researchers are their own. Also, Nippon Organon K.K. does not have any direct or indirect influence on the research.

Please see our website at www.urologyQOL.com for the details of Organon Urology Academia (OUA).
Contact info: Akio Ozaki, Pharma Policy, Strategy & Business Development, Nippon Organon K.K.
phone: +81 (0)6-63 47-9826
fax: +81 (0)6-63 47-97 05
email: akio.ozaki(at)remove-this.organon.jp