WHIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bayer announced the 2020 recipients of the annual Pulmonary Hypertension Accelerated Bayer (PHAB) Awards, a U.S.-based research grant program created to support clinical research in pulmonary hypertension (PH), with a focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The seven recipients will receive a combined total of $1 million in grants over a two-year period, making the PHAB Awards one of the largest industry-funded grant programs focused on PAH and CTEPH in the U.S.

“We are seeing how the COVID-19 pandemic has put pulmonary hypertension patients at an increased mortality risk, making it more imperative than ever to support the exploration, discovery and implementation of scientific research that benefits these patients,” said Sameer Bansilal, M.D., M.S., Medical Director, U.S. Medical Affairs at Bayer. “The PHAB Awards in recognizing the dedicated efforts of worthy researchers, underscores Bayer’s commitment to health for all.”

The 2020 recipients are:

• Nicholas Shelburne, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to study the effects of exercise on metabolism and right ventricular function in PAH.
• Mona Alotaibi, M.D., University of California San Diego, to study integrated high throughput non-targeted LCMS metabolomics in CTEPH.
• Samuel Rayner, M.D., University of Washington Center for Lung Biology, to study proximal pulmonary vascular compliance and inflammation in PAH.
• Andrea Frump, M.S., Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, to study targeting apelin and ACE2 in PAH-induced RV failure.
• Hilary DuBrock, M.D., MMSc, Mayo Clinic, to study improving outcomes of PH associated with chronic kidney disease through better understanding of disease mechanisms.
• Stephen Chan, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Vascular Medicine Institute, to study utilizing novel 18F-fluoroglutamine PET imaging in patients with PAH.
• Jason Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., University of California San Diego, to study endothelial biomarkers for treatment of CTEPH.

Continuing to build on the success of past PHAB grants in creating new research opportunities, Bayer also announced that the 2021 PHAB Awards application is now live and encourages qualified researchers to apply here. The deadline for applicants is November 1, 2021.

"The PHAB Awards would not be possible without the time and commitment of the independent Grants Review Committee, and I’d like to extend my thanks to this team of medical professionals,” said Amit Sharma, U.S. Vice President of Cardiovascular and Renal Medical Affairs at Bayer. “We look forward to carrying this program forward with the 2021 PHAB Awards. I encourage eligible applicants to submit their research proposals for consideration as soon as possible.”

The PHAB Awards selection criteria are modeled on standards used by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) system. Many attributes, including merit, significance, innovation and approach, are evaluated. Award recipients must post their research on ClinicalTrials.gov, and are expected to use best efforts to publish or present study outcomes. If research is not conducted, grant monies must be returned.

For a complete description of the PHAB Awards, application criteria and terms, visit https://www.phab-awards.com/awards/ or e-mail PHAB.awards@bayer.com.

Grants Review Committee

The PHAB Awards recipients were selected by an independent Grants Review Committee, consisting of the following eminent leaders in PH:

• William Auger, M.D., FCCP, FCPP, Temple University Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Richard Channick, M.D., UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
• Robert P. Frantz, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Anna R. Hemnes, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
• Tim Lahm, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
• Peter Leary, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• Stephen C. Mathai, M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
• John J. Ryan, M.D., BCh, BAO, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• Traci Stewart, RN, MSN, CHFN, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1) is defined by elevated pressure in the arteries going from the right side of the heart to the lungs. Typical symptoms of PAH include shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue, weakness, chest pain and syncope. PAH is caused by abnormalities in the walls of the pulmonary arteries.^1,2

About Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH, WHO Group 4) is a progressive type of pulmonary hypertension, in which it is believed that thromboembolic occlusion (organized blood clots) of pulmonary vessels gradually lead to an increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in an overload of the right heart.^3,4 CTEPH may evolve after prior episodes of acute pulmonary embolism, but the pathogenesis is not yet completely understood. The standard and potentially curative treatment for CTEPH is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), a surgical procedure in which the blood vessels of the lungs are cleared of clot and scar material.^5,6 However, a considerable number of patients with CTEPH (20%-40%) are not operable and in up to 35% of patients, the disease persists or reoccurs after PTE.⁷

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

References:

1 Galie et al. 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Eur Heart. 2016;37:67–119.

2American Lung Association. Pulmonary Hypertension. Accessed November 22, 2017. http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-hypertension.

3 Piazza G and Goldhaber SZ. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364: 351-360.

4 Simonneau G et al. Updated Clinical Classification of Pulmonary Hypertension. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2013; 62(25):

5 D’Armini M. Diagnostic advances and opportunities in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Eur Respir Rev. 2015; 24: 253–262.

6 Kim et al. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013; 62: D92-9.

7 Mathai et al. Quality of life in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2016 Aug; 48(2): 526–537.

 

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