Merck Serono Awards Grant for Growth - Countdown for Accepting Applications

PR58858

DARMSTADT, Germany, Dec. 4 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    - Merck Serono's Grant for Growth Innovations (GGI) supports innovative

projects to advance understanding in the field of growth  

    - Closing date for entries is January 6, 2015  

    - Awardees will be announced at the European Society for Paediatric

Endocrinology meeting in Barcelona, October 2015  

    Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, reminded today that

there is just one month remaining for scientists leading innovative research

projects to apply for grants as part of the Merck Serono Grant for Growth

Innovation (GGI). Grants totalling up to EUR400,000 will be awarded to one or

more selected projects.

    Merck Serono is supporting innovative projects that have the potential to

advance the understanding of science and medical research in the field of

growth. In 2014, the company announced the first recipients of the GGI at the

53rd European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) meeting. The winners

were from Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Steven Hildemann, Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medical

and Safety at Merck Serono said: "Merck Serono has a longstanding and ongoing

commitment to advancing the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. The Grant

for Growth Innovation demonstrates our support for novel scientific proposals

by researchers seeking to accelerate understanding of growth disorders, improve

adherence and deliver better outcomes for patients."

    Applications will close on January 6, 2015. For the first application,

submissions must contain a letter of intent and a brief description of the

research project. The applications will be evaluated by an independent

Scientific Steering Committee of internationally renowned endocrinologists

according to five criteria:

    Innovation

    Scientific rationale

    Clarity

    Feasibility

    Impact of research

    Successful applicants will then have the opportunity to develop the full

protocol for a second round of consideration. The winners will be announced in

2015 at the 54th European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology meeting in

Barcelona, which will be held October 1 to 3, 2015.

    More information is available at http://www.grantforgrowthinnovation.com .

    About the Grant for Growth Innovation (GGI)

    Merck Serono announced the initiation of the GGI program in 2013 to support

the advancement of understanding of the field of growth. A total grant of up to

EUR400,000 will be awarded to one or more selected projects. Each application is

blinded and evaluated by a Scientific Steering Committee composed of

internationally renowned endocrinologists, according to five criteria:

innovation; scientific rationale; clarity; feasibility; and impact of research.

    For further information about the GGI and how to apply for next year's

grants, please visit http://www.grantforgrowthinnovation.org

    About Merck Serono

    Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck. With headquarters

in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck Serono offers leading brands in 150 countries to

help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and

metabolic disorders as well as cardiovascular diseases. In the United States

and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of

Merck Serono.

    Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription

medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. We

have an enduring commitment to deliver novel therapies in our core focus areas

of neurology, oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.

    For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com .

    All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they

become available on the Merck Website. Please go to

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or discontinue this service.

    Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech

products in the pharmaceutical, chemical and life science sectors. With its

four divisions Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck

Millipore, Merck generated total revenues of EUR11.1 billion in 2013. Around

39,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for

patients, to further the success of customers and to help meet global

challenges. Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company -

since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and

responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the

founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck,

Darmstadt, Germany is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand.

The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is

known as EMD.

    SOURCE: Merck Serono