Novartis has presented a leading UK cancer research expert with a Promising Renal Investigators Meeting (PRIMe) Award for 2011.
Dr Chiara Margiotta, who is based at the School of Cancer Science of the University of Birmingham and the Cancer Centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, was presented with the UK accolade following assessment by an international panel of experts.
The researcher has received a 10,000 euro (8,270 pounds) grant to support the completion of an innovative study that analyses blood and tissue samples from patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in order to assess their safety and efficacy.
Meanwhile, Dr Elodie Coquan of the Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Francois Baclesse was presented with the French PRIMe Award, for work evaluating the efficacy of everolimus in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Tim Eisen, professor of medical oncology at the University of Cambridge and a member of the judging panel, said: "The innovation, vision and commitment displayed by this year's entrants and prize winners is very encouraging and promises to drive continued excellence in this field."
Last month, the company published phase III data from a clinical study of its breast cancer drug Afinitor, showcasing the treatment's effectiveness in aiding progression-free survival.