Merck Serono yesterday announced the launch of a funding programme to support global scientific innovation and medical education.
The company, which operates as the biopharma division of Merck KGaA, will provide €20m via a series of grants to address gaps in healthcare knowledge and promote improved patient care, building on the €13m of support it offered via grants in 2013.
For this year, the company’s Merck Global Grants programme will be split into two parts: The Grants for Innovation in Research and The Grants for Independent Medical Education.
In the area of research, Merck Serono will identify promising research across the biopharma field, including universities, research centres and small start-ups.
In order to qualify for funding, research will have to be focused on areas in which Merck Serono has an existing R&D and commercial presence – a field that includes oncology, multiple sclerosis and fertility.
The medical education funding is intended for educational institutions such as universities and scientific organisations and as part of the programme Merck will launch of an online portal to allow medical education providers to interact with industry.
The company is on the look out for medical education activities with a global or regional focus, and, again, they must be related to Merck Serono’s existing commercial areas.
Steven Hildemann, global chief medical officer at Merck Serono described the impetus for the grants. “Merck Serono has a long-standing reputation as a strong advocate for scientific innovation and medical education, believing that both are integral to helping healthcare professionals bring enhanced care to patients,” he said.