AWARD. For the first time, the Assar Gabrielsson Foundation is dividing its award between two medical researchers. The winners, Anna Staffas and Rebecka Arnsrud Godtman, have carried out acclaimed cancer research within leukemia and prostate cancer screening, respectively. The award amount is SEK 100,000 per person.
The Assar Gabrielsson Foundation aims to draw attention to both experimental and patient-based research. This is why, from this year on, two prizes will be awarded, one in each category.
In her thesis, Anna Staffas studied the genetic changes that give rise to leukemia. She was able to demonstrate the importance of certain mutations in the prognosis for children with leukemia, and that with the help of this knowledge of the mutations, be able to identify which type of treatment each patient should receive. In addition, she studied the mechanism behind a certain mutation and discovered how it turned a normal cell into a cancer cell.
In her thesis, Rebecka Arnsrud Godtman studied over-diagnosis in early screening for prostate cancer using the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests. She demonstrated that the current lack of organization in the investigation of the PSA value in Swedish men resulted in only slightly reduced mortality, while an organized screening program could reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer by around 40%. In addition, she showed that the risk of overtreatment can be reduced by so-called active monitoring, where treatment is offered only in the cases where the tumor shows signs of becoming more aggressive.
“Both award winners’ research is of high quality and asks important questions. The research results have attracted a lot of attention and have already had an influence on healthcare and have created a change in the way children with a certain type of leukemia are treated and how men with prostate cancer are cared for,” says Professor Eva Forssell-Aronsson, Executive Member of the Assar Gabrielsson Foundation.
The Assar Gabrielsson Foundation has existed since 1962 and its aim is to promote research, in particular that of cancer. It primarily supports research projects that are considered to be promising, but that do not yet have the necessary weight to attract grants from central funds. Director Assar Gabrielsson was one of the founders of AB Volvo.
“Many theses that are published from the University of Gothenburg are of excellent quality and to receive the Assar Gabrielsson Award with that competition is a great honor and a wonderful confirmation that my research is important. I am currently working on a post doc at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and hope to eventually be able to contribute with new competencies and the ability to conduct broader cancer research at the University of Gothenburg,” says Anna Staffas.
Rebecka Arnsrud Godtman is also delighted to have been given the Assar Gabrielsson Award.
“It is a great acknowledgement to receive this award and it is fantastic that it will now be divided into both clinical and preclinical research. I am passionate about improving PSA screening and want to find a method that is good enough to warrant introducing general population prostate cancer screening. Moreover, this award gives me the opportunity to be able to seek extra funding and continue with my research.
Awards ceremony
The Assar Gabrielsson Award will be presented on Wednesday, May 11 at 3-4 p.m., in the Birgit Thilander assembly hall, at the Academicum, at Sahlgrenska Academy, Medicinaregatan 3.
During the ceremony, both award winners will present their research. The awards ceremony is open to the press and the general public.
