The American Urological Association (AUA) and Astellas US LLC, a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., have announced a $3 million commitment to the Urology Care Foundation and to the promising young urologists seeking careers in academic urology.

The gift, the largest ever awarded to the Urology Care Foundation, will maintain its research program supporting surgeon-scientists, the Rising Star in Urology Research Award. This prestigious program is designed to prepare outstanding young urologists for careers in urologic research and propel them in becoming leaders in the field across diverse disciplines.

“Due to the tremendous economic burden of urological diseases in America, and the exponential increase in the population of aging Americans, the need for this program is more acute today than ever before,” said AUA President, Pramod C. Sogani, MD, FACS, FRCS(C). “Given the essential role urologists and scientists play in advancing the basic, translational and clinical research continuum, it is critical to have in place a program to ensure further recruitment of these individuals,” he added.

The Rising Star program has been supported by Astellas for nearly a decade and has become the leading research program of the Urology Care Foundation in supporting surgeon-scientists. Originally started in 2005, the Rising Star program has supported 16 outstanding young urologists, all of whom are continuing their work in such critical areas of urology research as bladder cancer, incontinence, kidney cancer, prostate cancer and other urologic conditions.

"Astellas is honored to make this gift to the Urology Care Foundation,” said Astellas Scientific & Medical Affairs Inc., Vice President, Jeffrey D. Bloss, MD. “The research from the individuals who have won the Rising Star Award is impressive and provides strong evidence that long term support of this effort through an endowment is a solid investment.”

The Urology Care Foundation is the world’s leading nonprofit urologic health foundation. Through mentored research training programs that support the continuum of medical students, residents, urologists and post-doctorate fellows, the Urology Care Foundation focuses on funding urologic research for future generations of researchers. This is critical to helping find new treatments and improving patients’ lives. Urologists with advanced training and experience in urologic research are essential to future success, and by continuing this support in the form of an endowment, the urologic and medical community can ensure unbroken progression for succeeding generations of surgeon-scientists in urologic research for many years.

About the Urology Care Foundation
The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. We partner with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urological diseases through research and education. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.urologyhealth.org.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 20,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. To learn more about the AUA, visit www.AUAnet.org.

About Astellas US LLC: Astellas US LLC, located in Northbrook, Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information about Astellas US LLC, please visit www.astellas.us.