Gary Zieziula, President and Managing Director of EMD Serono, will be accepting MassBioEd’s Champions for Biotechnology Award on behalf of EMD Serono for its significant support for life sciences education in Massachusetts schools. EMD Serono is being honored at the 2016 Champions for Biotechnology Education Awards Reception – hosted by MassBioEd at the UMass Club on Wednesday, November 16 – for their insurmountable support of MassBioEd’s BioTeach Program combined with their focus on STEM/life sciences education as part of their corporate philanthropic philosophy. In addition to supporting organizations that focus on science education in their local communities, they also donate to local public schools directly to expand science programs. They have hosted four Career Exploration Days through BioTeach since 2007, where over 200 students have spent time at their facility shadowing mentors in departments including research, oncology, neurology, endocrinology and legal. EMD Serono supports initiatives that develop young leaders into the next generation of scientists.
EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, integrates cutting-edge science and innovative technology to develop products that meet the needs of patients. EMD Serono develops and offers therapies for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, infertility, HIV-Associated Wasting and growth disorders, as well as developing medications for cancer. Around 2 million people have been helped through their patient education and support programs and services.
Currently, EMD Serono donates around $5 million to community organizations and non-profits per year. Their Innovation Grants focus on areas in R&D, such as the Grant for Oncology Innovation, the Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation, and the Grant for Fertility Innovation.
Alongside a commitment to helping patients with unmet medical needs, collaborating with partners is essential to strengthen their pipeline and combine global resources. Through a partnership with the Massachusetts Neuroscience Consortium and six other pharmaceutical companies, pre-clinical neuroscience research at Massachusetts academic and research institutions is being funded to improve the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders, such as MS.
EMD Serono employees volunteer twice a year on company time to support nonprofit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Magical Moon Foundation, Cradles to Crayons, Hope Lodge and Bacteria Around You.