COLON CANCER CHALLENGE FOUNDATION® (CCCF) TO PRESENT COLORECTAL CANCER RESEARCH SCHOLAR AWARD TO SOCIETY OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY (SSO) FELLOW

Floral Park, New York, February 28, 2011 –The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® (CCCF) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) are pleased to announce the presentation of the first Colorectal Cancer Research Scholar Award to be awarded to Bilal Alaiyan, MD,a surgical oncology fellow at the Department of Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center & Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, during the upcoming SSO Annual Cancer Symposium, March 2-5, in San Antonio, Texas.

The CCCF and the SSO developed the Colorectal Cancer Research Scholar Award in order to recognize excellence in translational research focused on the molecular biology of colorectal cancer. “The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® is very excited to be able to provide this recognition to young scientific and medical investigators who are focusing their research on the colorectal cancer problem," said Thomas K. Weber, MD, President and Founder of the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® and Scientific Program Chair of this year’s Annual Cancer Symposium. “We are delighted to be able to partner with the Society of Surgical Oncology to support colorectal cancer translational research.”

Beginning this year, the award will be made annually to a postdoctoral surgical oncology fellow whose work is being presented at the SSO Annual Cancer Symposium. The award, which includes a $2,000 grant for travel support, will be made to the presenter of the abstract which secures the highest review score from the Scientific Program Committee and is focused on colorectal cancer meeting the criteria set forth by the CCCF.

SSO President Mitchell C. Posner, MD, Chief, Surgical Oncology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, speaks for the SSO, “The Society is appreciative of this opportunity to recognize and support the work of young surgical oncologists interested in colorectal cancer research and thanks the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation for its support of this award.”

Dr. Alaiyan will receive this year’s award in recognition of his abstract, “Differential Expression of Colon Cancer Associated Transcript-1 (CCAT1) in the Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence of the Colon and Rectum.” He will be presented with the award at the conclusion of his presentation during the Cancer Forum on Saturday afternoon, March 5, and will be recognized as the first recipient of the Colorectal Cancer Research Scholar Award during the SSO President’s Banquet that evening.

For more information on the SSO and the 64th Annual Cancer Symposium including press inquiries, please visit http://www.surgonc.org or contact Curt Mattson at curtmattson@surgonc.org or (847) 427-1400. For more information on the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® and the upcoming Colon Cancer Challenge® Run/Walk to be held Sunday, March 27th in Central Park, please visit http://www.coloncancerchallenge.org or contact Jennifer Sloan at sloan@coloncancerchallenge.org or (516) 233 - 2585.

THE COLON CANCER CHALLENGE FOUNDATION®

The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® (CCCF) is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization registered in New York State and listed by the Federal IRS as a public charity dedicated to reducing colorectal incidence and death. Our mission includes: supporting research into the causes and cures for colorectal cancer; increasing public awareness; educating the public about the importance of early detection; and forming strategic partnerships in the fight against colorectal cancer.

SOCIETY OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Founded in 1940 as “The James Ewing Society,” the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) is a 2,500-member organization for surgeons and health care providers. The mission of the Society of Surgical Oncology is to improve patient care by advancing the science and practice of surgical oncology worldwide. The Society’s focus on all disease sites is reflected in its comprehensive Annual Cancer Symposium, monthly scientific journal (Annals of Surgical Oncology), special projects, and committee structure.