On National Science and Researcher Day, celebrated on July 8th, the Instituto Projeto Cura announced the winner of the 8th edition of the Renata Thormann Procianoy Award, a recognition granted annually to Brazilian researchers who stand out for their work presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the world's largest oncology event.

The Renata Thormann Procianoy Award symbolizes the impact that clinical research can have on people's lives and reinforces the importance of science as a path to expanding treatment and care options for cancer patients.

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The story that inspired the award

Created by the Instituto Projeto Cura in 2019, the award was born from a story marked by love, perseverance, and trust in science.

The tribute bears the name of Renata Thormann Procianoy, who dedicated her life to seeking alternatives to diagnose and treat a serious health issue faced by her mother, the psychiatrist Nora Thormann. For two years, Renata tirelessly researched possibilities that could offer an answer for the case.

This journey led Nora to join a clinical study coordinated by the Peruvian researcher Dr. Roberto Miranda at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, at the University of Texas (United States). Participation in the research allowed her condition to be identified and treated, demonstrating, in practice, how clinical research can transform lives.

Unfortunately, a few months after this achievement, Nora's daughter, Renata, passed away in a car accident. In her honor, and at Nora's initiative, the Instituto Projeto Cura created an award that recognizes researchers who, just as she believed, dedicate their work to building new paths for cancer treatment.

Watch the video testimonial from Nora Thormann Procianoy to the Instituto Projeto Cura:

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A trajectory of recognition for science

Since its creation, the Renata Thormann Procianoy Award has honored important names in Brazilian oncology:

• 2019 – Dr. Tiago Bueno
• 2020 – Dr. Fernando Maluf
• 2021 – Dr. Luciana Landeiro
• 2022 – Dr. Verônica Torres
• 2023 – Dr. Fernanda Bronzon
• 2024 – Dr. Fernando Maluf
• 2025 – Dr. Ruffo Freitas Junior
• 2026 – Dr. Carlos Barrios

Each edition recognizes Brazilian researchers whose studies presented at ASCO contribute to the advancement of oncology and expand treatment perspectives for patients worldwide.

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The 2026 winner: Dr. Carlos Barrios

The winner of the 2026 edition is Dr. Carlos Barrios, one of the most respected Brazilian oncologists and an international reference in clinical research.

Oncologist Dr. Carlos Barrios is the director of the Oncology Research Center at Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS in Porto Alegre (RS), co-founder and current president of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG), and serves as a principal investigator in numerous international multicenter studies. Throughout his career, he has become one of the leading Latin American figures in cancer clinical research, participating in the development of treatments that now benefit thousands of patients in different countries. He is also a member of major international scientific societies and the author of hundreds of publications in high-impact medical journals.

In 2026, Dr. Carlos Barrios was recognized for his participation as an investigator and member of the Steering Committee for the international ASCENT-03 study.

The study evaluated the use of sacituzumab govitecan as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer who are not candidates for immunotherapy.

The results demonstrated that the drug provided longer progression-free survival compared to conventional chemotherapy. This benefit was observed across different tumor biological profiles, indicating a consistent effect for a wide range of patients and representing a significant advancement in the treatment of this aggressive form of breast cancer.

Check out the ASCENT-03 study publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.1014

In recognizing this scientific contribution, the Instituto Projeto Cura also pays tribute to all the researchers, multidisciplinary teams, and professionals involved in conducting clinical trials, who work daily to transform scientific knowledge into new treatment possibilities.

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The commitment of the Instituto Projeto Cura

The Instituto Projeto Cura is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting scientific, social, and educational activities to raise public awareness about the importance of clinical research in the fight against cancer.

In addition to disseminating quality information, the Institute works to raise funds to support academic research, helping to ensure that more studies are developed and more patients have access to healthcare innovation.

The Renata Thormann Procianoy Award represents this commitment to science and to everyone who believes that the advancement of oncology depends on the dedication of researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, and institutions.

Because, at the Instituto Projeto Cura, we believe that research saves lives.