Two fellows, Edward F. Attiyeh, MD, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Tarun Durga, MD, MBBS, of St. Luke’s Cancer Centre, United Kingdom, are recognized this year with the top ASCO Merit Awards. Each year, Merit Awards are given to 100 fellows who have submitted abstracts to the Annual Meeting, with three special Merit Awards presented: the Fellowship Merit Award for the highest-ranking abstract overall, the Brigid Leventhal Merit Award for the highest-ranking abstract in pediatric cancer research, and the Pain Merit Award for the highest-ranking abstract in the area of pain management.
Dr. Attiyeh earned a dual distinction this year by being honored with both the Fellowship Award and the Brigid Leventhal Merit Award for his study, “Chromosome Arm 11q Deletion Predicts for Neuroblastoma Outcome: A Children’s Oncology Group Study.” It marks the first time that one fellow has been recognized with two awards, and it is also the first time that a Merit Award winner will present an abstract at a Plenary Session. Dr. Attiyeh will present the abstract at Plenary Session II on Sunday, May 15.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Attiyeh said he is “honored and very grateful that my work in pediatric oncology is being recognized at this high level.” His groundbreaking study yielded important information about the genetic determinants and predictors of survival outcome for pediatric neuroblastoma.
Dr. Durga’s abstract, “Randomised Study to Access the Efficacy of Calcitonin in Controlling Pain in Patients of Metastatic Bone Lesions Poorly Responding to Opioids,” was selected for the Pain Merit Award by the Patient Care Subcommittee of the Scientific Program Committee. Dr. Durga will present the findings of his study in the Oral Abstract Presentation Session, Patient Care, to be held on Monday, May 16.
Dr. Durga said he is “overwhelmed by the honor and privilege” of receiving the Merit Award. “It is wonderful recognition for my work, and it gives me greater motivation to continue my research further,” he says. Dr. Durga conducted the research while working as a fellow in the All India Institute Medical Sciences’ Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology. Driven by a belief that patients with cancer should have relief of pain, he and his colleagues set out to identify the potential role of calcitonin as a means of managing pain in patients with bone metastasis.
Articles about the two award recipients and their research will be included in ASCO Daily News, the official newspaper of the Annual Meeting. A list of all Merit Award winners, including the date and times of their locations, will also be included in the newspaper.
Authors are selected for Merit Awards during the review of all abstracts by the Scientific Program Committee. The $1,500 awards were established as a way to enable more fellows to attend the Annual Meeting to present their research. The awards are provided through The ASCO Foundation, with generous support from industry.
