The Cura Project Institute announces the winner of the 7th Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize: the oncologist Dr. Ruffo Freitas Junior, recognized for his innovative work “Integrated health system for resolving breast cancer screening actions: Multicenter randomized clinical trial — Itaberaí randomized trial, ReBeC, RBR-39VM2nd”. The announcement was made on the day July 04, 2025, during the LACOG Board Meeting, in Rio de Janeiro.

O Renata Thormann Procianoy Award 2025 reaffirms its purpose to value science and innovation in oncology, highlighting high-impact Brazilian research that was presented at ASCO 2025 (American Society of Clinical Oncology), the largest oncology congress in the world. The choice of the winning work was carried out by an independent scientific committee, made up of highly qualified specialists, who analyzed the studies with rigor and responsibility.

The award-winning study: technology and social impact in breast cancer screening

The Itaberaí project, led by Dr. Ruffo Freitas Junior and his team, proposed a practical and accessible solution to improve breast cancer screening in Brazil. The study was conducted between 2022 and 2024, in different cities, with the participation of 3,670 women.

The major innovation of the work was the integration of Community Health Agents (ACS) in the screening process, training them to perform clinical breast examination. In addition, a digital monitoring system was developed, consisting of Pink app And through the platform RosaWatch, which organized and facilitated the recording and monitoring of information in real time.

The results show the positive impact of the intervention:

• In the group with the ACS acting, 10 cases of breast cancer have been identified.
• In the group without clinical examination by the ACS, only 6 cases have been confirmed.
• The digital system brought more agility and quality to the tracking, with a high level of adherence by the participants.

The project proved that technology combined with strengthening primary care can save lives, especially in communities with less access to specialized exams.

The study that won the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize 2025 is signed by a team of professionals committed to science:

• Principal Researcher: Ruffo Freitas Júnior
• Danielle Cristina N. Rodrigues
• Rosângela D. Corrêa
• Douglas E. da Silva
• Paola F. Germek
• Luana V. Martins
• Christina S. Cavalcante Costa
• Flávia Vidal Cabero
• Priscila D. Watanabe
• Leonardo R. Soares

A tribute with history and purpose

Do you know how the Renata Thormann Prize came about? The story behind the tribute is profoundly touching and carries a legacy of love, care, and determination.

Renata Thormann dedicated two years of her life to helping her mother, Nora Thormann Procianoy, seek a diagnosis and treatment for a rare breast cancer. Thanks to Renata's efforts, Nora was included in clinical research, was treated, and recovered.

Renata, however, passed away some time later. Since then, her mother decided to transform her pain into purpose, marking her daughter's name in the history of the fight against cancer.

This is how, together with the Cura Project Institute, the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize was born: a tribute that redefines the experience of Nora and Renata and helps to make society aware of the importance of clinical research.

Learn more about this inspiring story: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6E8Fqmu-oy/

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History of the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize

Since its creation, the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize celebrates national scientific production that transforms the reality of cancer patients. Meet the winners of the previous editions:

• 2019: Dr. Thiago Bueno de Oliveira — Evaluation of circulating tumor cells in head and neck cancer.
• 2020: Dr. Fernando Maluf — Study on a new drug for advanced prostate cancer.
• 2021: Dr. Luciana Landeiro — Use of hand warmer to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
• 2022: Dr. Verônica Torres — Evaluation of the CKD-EPI equation without racial coefficient.
• 2023: Dr. Fernanda Bronzon Damian — Lacog Study 1018, presented at the Best of ASCO 2023 — Brazil Edition.
• 2024: Dr. Fernando Maluf — HERCULES study, innovation in the treatment of advanced penile cancer.

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Scientific Committee 2025

The award is curated and evaluated by a scientific committee made up of great names in Brazilian oncology:

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Each of them brings with them a trajectory dedicated to research and the advancement of cancer care.

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