Our corporate philanthropic activities are closely aligned with our mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and hemophilia to patients worldwide. That is why we offer educational grants and other support, including fellowships, to academic institutions, hospitals and community-based healthcare-related organizations in the therapeutic areas we serve.
Supporting Medical Education in the Community
In 2011, Biogen Idec supported 100 medical education programs for healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses and pharmacists, for a total contribution of $5.4 million. Awards are made to non-profit organizations, such as universities, as well as medical education companies. Of the total amount contributed for medical education in 2011, $4.4 million funded 48 grants aimed at educating providers in new technologies and assessments in multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment decisions throughout the disease course, and new and emerging therapies and quality-of-life issues. In addition, we directed another $1 million to scientists researching a variety of therapeutic areas, including neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and hemophilia. All programs are developed and administered completely independently of Biogen Idec direction or influence, in accordance with relevant internal policies and external regulations.
Fellowship Support
Biogen Idec’s MS Clinical Fellowship Program is committed to improving the lives of patients with MS by supporting clinical fellows at highly respected medical institutions leading the effort to care for MS patients and find new treatments for this serious disease.
For the 2011-2012 academic year, Biogen Idec awarded 10 grants totaling close to $900,000 (up to $90,000 per fellow) to top universities and academic institutions across the country to support MS Clinical Fellowships. Once grants were awarded, the selection and placement of the MS Clinical Fellow was at the discretion of the recipient institution.
Biogen Idec introduced the MS Clinical Fellowship Program in 2006. Since its inception, we have donated nearly $3 million to various universities and academic institutions across the country. It is Biogen Idec’s hope that the research and programs funded by these fellowship grants, combined with our own internal research, will help find new and innovative ways to address MS. For more information on the MS Clinical Fellowship program, please visit our Grants Office.
